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Former OJ Simpson lawyers reach settlement

By WTOP Staff

KEN RITTER
Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) — O.J. Simpson’s feuding former Las Vegas trial lawyers have settled a breach of contract lawsuit in federal court in Nevada and their slander claim in Florida state court.

But the imprisoned former football star’s ex-lawyer from Miami, Yale Galanter, and one of Simpson’s current attorneys in Nevada still have one dispute remaining.

Galanter confirmed Thursday that a Miami defamation case remained active against Simpson attorney Malcolm LaVergne in Las Vegas.

LaVergne said his lawyer in Miami was trying to resolve the case.

Terms of agreements between Galanter and attorneys Gabriel Grasso and Joshua Tomsheck weren’t disclosed.

Each noted that a June 4 filing dismissing a breach of contract dispute in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas and a May 29 filing voluntarily dismissing the defamation and slander claim against Grasso and Tomsheck in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court contained confidentiality clauses.

The Miami case alleges that Galanter’s reputation in the Florida legal community was harmed by comments in April 2012 about Grasso’s allegations that Galanter failed to pay him promised legal fees in the Simpson case.

The root of the dispute between Simpson’s lawyers was Grasso’s contention that Galanter stiffed him of a promised $250,000 fee for serving as local attorney following Simpson’s arrest in September 2007 and through his trial in 2008.

Simpson, now 66, was convicted and sentenced to nine to 33 years in state prison for leading a group of men in an armed confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers in a room at a Las Vegas casino hotel.

Simpson maintained that he was trying to retrieve from the collectibles dealers family photos and mementoes that he thought had been stolen from him after his 1995 acquittal in Los Angeles in the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend.

Grasso and Galanter parted ways on the Simpson case in 2009, before Galanter lost an appeal for Simpson’s freedom to the Nevada Supreme Court that included oral arguments in June 2010.

Galanter was no longer part of Simpson’s case when LaVergne lost a bid for a hearing before the entire seven-member state high court.

Grasso later hired Tomsheck to handle a breach of contract claim filed in April 2012 in Nevada state court against Galanter. The case was moved to federal court the following month.

Galanter denied failing to pay Grasso and filed the Miami lawsuit against Grasso, Tomsheck and LaVergne.

A Nevada state court judge last year denied Simpson a new trial based on claims that Galanter and Grasso botched his defense at trial.

A new team of lawyers is appealing that decision to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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