Judge Paves Way for Deposition From Barbieri in Civil Case

A Santa Monica Superior Court judge on Monday paved the way for a deposition to be taken from O.J. Simpson’s former girlfriend in the civil wrongful-death case filed against Simpson by the families of Ronald Lyle Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.

Judge Alan B. Haber granted the request of Daniel M. Petrocelli, attorney for Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, and sister, Kim Goldman, to have a Florida court subpoena Paula Barbieri for a deposition in her hometown of Panama City, Fla., on Dec. 14.

In his legal papers, Petrocelli noted that Simpson himself had deemed Barbieri a “material witness” so that she could visit him regularly while he was incarcerated after being charged with the June 12, 1994, murders of his ex-wife and Goldman.

In an Oct. 31 interview with ABC, Barbieri--who did not testify at the criminal trial in which Simpson was acquitted--said she had broken off her relationship with the former football star but indicated that they were still on friendly terms.

During the criminal trial, telephone records were introduced showing that Simpson unsuccessfully tried to reach Barbieri several times on the day of the murders. Petrocelli said he believes Barbieri will be the first person deposed in the case, which is scheduled to go to trial in April. Simpson is expected to be deposed by the end of January.

At a closed hearing in Haber’s chambers earlier this month, the judge ordered Petrocelli and other attorneys involved in the case not to disclose the time or place of Simpson’s deposition for security reasons.