Remaining Goldberg possessions auctioned off

The $300,000 bid on the home met expectations, the auction director said.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LIBERTY -- The auctioneer's gavel has fallen for the last time on the estate of Richard Goldberg, the former medical malpractice attorney, leaving nothing to show of a once-lavish lifestyle -- including his palatial township home.
The luxurious 975 Royal Arms Drive home, complete with an indoor pool, sauna, tennis courts and other amenities, brought in a bid offer of $300,000. Chris Roman of George Roman Auctioneers, who handled the auction, said the bidder's name has not been released.
The house was not appraised by the auction company before being placed on the block, but Roman said the bid amount is in line with what was expected to be offered for the home.
Other items: In addition to the house, about 450 other items were sold to a crowd of more than 700 people. The list of things to be sold included furniture, exercise equipment, audio-video equipment, artwork and video games.
Roman said some of the more pricey items sold were a baby grand piano for $3,000, an audio system for $1,400 and exercise equipment for $600.
"This was very successful," Roman said. "We had 475 people registered, which means there was actually probably about 700 people there, which is a pretty good turnout."
Saturday's auction was the second of two to liquidate Goldberg's remaining assets. Other items such as cars, snowmobiles, paintings and office equipment were sold Friday.
Conviction: Goldberg, 57, of Liberty, is serving 57 months in a federal prison for pocketing millions of dollars that should have gone to his clients for lawsuit settlements.
When the federal sentence is finished, he faces an additional 21 months in a state prison for concealing assets that should have been used to pay back his victims.
Goldberg filed for bankruptcy protection in January. The sale proceeds will be put into a pot for distribution to creditors who've filed claims against Goldberg in bankruptcy court.
jgoodwin@vindy.com