Frank and Jamie McCourt renew settlement talks over Dodgers in divorce case
Frank and Jamie McCourt renewed settlement discussions on Wednesday, with the Dodgers weeks away from starting a second season under uncertain ownership.
Dennis Wasser, an attorney for Jamie McCourt, confirmed the discussions but declined to reveal anything about them. Steve Sugerman, the spokesman for Frank McCourt, declined to comment.
It is unclear whether additional discussions are scheduled.
"We believe settlement discussions are protected and should not be disclosed to anybody," Wasser said Thursday. "If they are, there's less chance the case will settle.
"If this issue can be settled between the parties, it would be better for the parties, the team and the community."
The McCourts have held settlement talks on several occasions in the 17 months since they filed for divorce, but Wednesday's discussions apparently were the first since a judge threw out an agreement that would have granted Frank sole ownership of the Dodgers.
Frank has said he would pursue a second trial to establish the Dodgers as his separate property, on grounds he bought the team using a company formed before marriage.
The court might set a trial date as far as two years away, said Lynn Soodik, a Santa Monica family law attorney who is not involved in the McCourt case but has followed it closely. The prospect of such protracted litigation could nudge the parties toward settlement, she said.
"It may be so long before they have a trial that they can’t bear it any more," Soodik said.
The Dodgers' television contract with Fox also expires in two years. If the divorce is not resolved before then, Jamie could claim a stake in what are expected to be substantially higher television revenues.
Even if Frank can negotiate a new contract with Fox now and settle his divorce in the process, it is not certain that Commissioner Bud Selig would approve the contract. Selig already has rejected a proposed loan from Fox to Frank.
Jamie contends the Dodgers are community property and that she is half-owner of the team. Her lawyers have suggested Frank might not be able to retain control of the team unless he and Jamie become partners in running it.
--Bill Shaikin
Photo: Jamie and Frank McCourt in 2006. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times
That'll give them two more years to loot the team.
Posted by: SmackSaw | 03/03/2011 at 12:21 PM
because someone has to start: SELL THE TEAM MCCOURTS
Posted by: logan street | 03/03/2011 at 12:39 PM
If they are officially divorced [less the community property], why refer to them as the McCourts?
Posted by: Paul Espinoza | 03/03/2011 at 12:46 PM
This is depressing, bleak, embarrassing, frustrating, disgusting, maddening, sickening, despairing, intolerable, exasperating, hopeless, pathetic, comical, farcical, gut-wrenching, vomit-inducing, hate-inspiring, miserable, moronic, non-sensical, and capricious. And it's all happening to my Doyers baseball...
Posted by: Sangroazul | 03/03/2011 at 12:46 PM
Do it Frank. LA needs ONE person back in the saddle to move onward.
Posted by: Paul Espinoza | 03/03/2011 at 12:48 PM
first bobble head give away day, dodgers fans should take the opportunity to protest by tossing bobble heads en mass onto the field. or something...let's get Reign of Terror on these bedbug McCourts.
Posted by: super_asimo | 03/03/2011 at 12:56 PM
Hey "super" you might have something there. Except the bobble heads should be hurled onto the filed sans thier heads!! Yeah, that would be epic!!
Posted by: Sangroazul | 03/03/2011 at 01:16 PM
Just go away, Frank ... just go away.
Posted by: alanw19 | 03/03/2011 at 01:29 PM
The last time the Dodger fans threw objects en masse (souvenir baseballs) onto the field, it resulted in a Dodger forfeit. A "Good-Bye Frank" chant should be enough to get the message across.
Posted by: RunsWithScissors | 03/03/2011 at 01:42 PM
This sounds like it's probably bad news. It means Frank is getting desperate. But if they actually do settle, then we may be stuck with Frank for the long haul, and that would be bad news. Today is my birthday, and all I want for my birthday is for Frank to go away so I can have my Dodgers back. Is that so much to ask? I don't think that's so much to ask.
Posted by: BlueinAZ | 03/03/2011 at 01:47 PM
"Her lawyers have suggested Frank might not be able to retain control of the team unless he and Jamie become partners in running it."
.
God help us all if that happens.
Posted by: Labeldude | 03/03/2011 at 02:22 PM
McDonald's Court = McCourt
Posted by: Brian | 03/03/2011 at 02:23 PM
Throwing bobble head dolls on to the field would require you to make a contribution to the Frank McScumbag fund via admission ticket and parking fee. Just stay away from Dodger Stadium until the team is sold.
Posted by: Phillip | 03/03/2011 at 02:30 PM
@ RunsWithScissors: I attended the final Washington Senators game in DC in 1971. For some reason, the team decided to give away paperback copies of Ted Williams' book "My Turn at Bat" that had been left over from a previous giveaway earlier in the season. By the 4th inning, the outfield was covered with pages torn from the book that had been strewn onto the field from the stands. Even that was not enough to get the game called, it wasn't until the 9th when hundreds of fans stormed the field that they called the forfeit.
As for the McCourts, the sooner they're gone, the better for the Dodgers and the better for baseball.
Posted by: Drew | 03/03/2011 at 02:55 PM
A chant of "SELL THE TEAM!" between innings on opening day might get noticed.
Posted by: Champs in 63 | 03/03/2011 at 02:58 PM
GO AWAY FRANK AND JAMIE.
Posted by: Harold | 03/03/2011 at 02:59 PM
Attention Frank and Jamie McCourt...we know that both of you are aware of what is being posted on these blogs that express Dodger fan's disgust with your ownership. Take a tip...you don't have to read the writing on the wall, it's on clear display in the blogs....we want you gone!
Posted by: pargrad | 03/03/2011 at 03:14 PM
Only Frank & Jamie could make Donald Sterling look good - better yet Donald leave w/Frank & Jamiem & creat the 2-headed monster from Hades
Posted by: formerCeltAD | 03/03/2011 at 03:34 PM
sell the team to Eli Broad, who in turn would turn it over to Peter O'Malley to run.
Posted by: Pedro Baez | 03/03/2011 at 04:13 PM
These articles have to be published, sure; but can we please do without their pictures every time something about them gets mentioned? You never know how close it is to mealtime it's going to be when we visit this blog. Thanks!
Posted by: DG | 03/03/2011 at 05:14 PM
Those two love struck kids!!
They need to reconcile and take a 2nd honeymoon ....
Posted by: These Dodgers Suck! | 03/03/2011 at 05:20 PM
Proves the old adage -- never trust a guy with no upper lip.
Posted by: Brainiac | 03/03/2011 at 05:37 PM
Best moment this off season was McCourt having a tractor pull - McCourt owns the place and needs the money so on with the show. What is amusing is unlike Moreno, who has no say over Angel Stadium usage McCourt does.
Greatest moment was the revelation that the McCourt's set up that phony shell corporation to syphon off money to spend on themselves and last was Frank's attempt to entice some players over in mainland China to buy a majority interest in brooklyn and let good ole Frank run it for them.
The preceding two are why Selig wants him out- the McCourts cannot be trusted!
Posted by: rusoviet | 03/03/2011 at 05:37 PM
Rusoviet:
Although the city of Anaheim owns Angel Stadium, Moreno manages the stadium and books events there, including motocross.
Posted by: Bill Shaikin | 03/03/2011 at 05:40 PM
sell the team, you carpet-bagging losers!
Posted by: david | 03/03/2011 at 05:51 PM
Bill thank you for monitoring my allegations - appreciate the fact you are 'observing' - spasebo
Posted by: rusoviet | 03/03/2011 at 06:07 PM
Bill Shaikin: At this point the opinion of a Family Law Attorney means less than nothing. In the future speak with a Corporate Law Attorney.
Posted by: visitation rights | 03/03/2011 at 06:22 PM
It's all so sad. You know what I do? I troll Giants blogs. That makes me feel better. Then I realize that I'm so ashamed of the Dodgers that I have to troll the blog of a team that just won the World Series.
That makes me sad again.
Posted by: WBB | 03/03/2011 at 06:55 PM
Hitler, Bin Laden, McCourt. I think I have the worst people in history in the correct order.
Posted by: KoufaxFan | 03/03/2011 at 07:00 PM
Stop attending Dodger games until these bozos are gon
Posted by: schalupa | 03/03/2011 at 07:17 PM
I'm boycotting Dodger Stadium starting with this season and I'm not going back until a new owner is in place. The way things are going, that might be at least a few years.
SELL THE TEAM AND GO AWAY McSCUM!
Posted by: k | 03/03/2011 at 08:06 PM
Visitation Rights: The family law attorney offered a possible timetable for a trial, based on her experience practicing before the family law judges in this courthouse, and an opinion based on her practice.
That said, what do you believe I should be asking a corporate law attorney?
Posted by: Bill Shaikin | 03/03/2011 at 09:03 PM
Revolution is sweeping the Middle East. How about here?
BOYCOTT THE DODGERS until McCourt is gone.
Posted by: Boycott Dodgers | 03/03/2011 at 09:46 PM
I too plan to boycott Dodger Stadium this season. It pains me to do so, as a former season ticket holder. But I can't stomach giving the McCourt$ that much of my hard earned cash. I may go if I stumble onto some free tickets. I may go to a game in the 3rd inning and scalp a ticket for $5. I may go to a day game with the half off food and drink to alleviate to profit the McCourt$ take from my purchases. But after the news of Duke Snider's passing came out, and I got to talking to my father, who wore #4 in little league for the Duke and passed the number down to me in little league and taught me all about the "Boys of Summer" and to be a Dodger fan, I got sick to my stomach thinking of our current situation. It's shameful what has become of the organization, we are a laughing stock to our rivals. We are hamstrung in acquiring top level talent because of the uncertainty regarding our owners. Besides Manny, who is the last Duke Snider type player the Dodgers had? Until the McCourts leave, how long will it be until we have another?
Posted by: Jeremy Kramer | 03/03/2011 at 11:01 PM
Hey judge, how about forcing these two frauds to liquidate the team and to then take a hike!
Sell the Dodgers to a baseball man or group and thus start the Dodgers once great organization back into national respect and championship contention!
McCourts...take a hike you greedy pretenders!
Posted by: Gillyking | 03/03/2011 at 11:34 PM
Over the last generation, the public has been aghast over the blatant greed of corporate raiders who used leveraged buy-outs of shaky companies, stripped the company assets bare and then dumped the leftovers back on to the market, leaving the employees and little investors out in the cold while the raiders sat back fat and smiling like cheshire cats.
Has not Frank "Gordon Gecko" McCourt and the greedy and politically ambitious Jamie "Hillary Clinton" McCourt done enough yet to cripple the team, its employees and fans.
Commissioner Selig brought them into the Dodger boardroom and facilitated the buy out - who will be the one's to chase the McCourts out?
It is not likely that a fan revolt would occur or be effective. I think the only resolution is another group (hopefully benevolent) who have the cash that the McCourts crave and buy them out. If only...say your payers Dodger fans. More greed is yet to come. Frank and Jamie are still hungry for more mansions, limos, jets, haircuts, and political offices.
Posted by: Kirk Davenport | 03/04/2011 at 12:43 AM
Stay away from Dodger stadium until the carpetbaggers leave.
Posted by: California Sun | 03/04/2011 at 04:09 AM
The Los Angeles Dodgers may be owned by the McCourt's however the team belongs to the City of Los Angeles. It is about time that the commissioner takes control and forces a sale. Before the team is beyond repair.
Commissioner, stand up and be a man for once.
Posted by: 2centsworth | 03/04/2011 at 06:48 AM
Hey, what's with all the negative waves? Didn't I read that every fan mctrash talks to loves him? Where are they? C'mon, mcsleaze lovers! Stand up and be counted!
Posted by: Eric Monson | 03/04/2011 at 01:09 PM
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Sell-The-Dodgers-Frank-McCourt/155616561133624
SELL THE DODGERS, FRANK MCCOURT community Facebook page.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 03/04/2011 at 01:16 PM
How I pray every night to the Big Dodger in the Sky, that the McCourts sell the team and then just go away. These two snakes have turned this cherished, storied franchise into the butt of jokes.
The men who wear, and have worn, the great Dodger uniform, deserve so much better than this.
Robinson, Snider, Koufax, Drysdale, Garvey, Alston, Sutton, Lasorda, Reese, Cey, Russell, Hodges, Erskine, Valenzuela, Hershiser, Scioscia, O'Malley's....McCourts, need I say more??
What a joke....
Posted by: Kikiman04 | 03/04/2011 at 01:25 PM
This is sure stupidity...Neither Jamie or Frank will give in. Keep the pressure on Frank. Let your voices be heard loud until he 's out of money. They are both bimbos…
Posted by: Cokomo | 03/04/2011 at 01:28 PM
Bud god gave you balls for a reason... get this loser outta here!
Posted by: Cokomo | 03/04/2011 at 01:30 PM
Back to Beantown the both of you!!!!
Even "The Pimp" (Bud Selig) can't stand your odor!
Posted by: Steve | 03/06/2011 at 10:32 AM
How many more millions of dollars can these two clowns, the McCourts waste that should of been put back into the organization of the Los Angeles Dodgers? The Dodgers were dead last year in spending on international scouting at $314,000.00, another joke. This use to be the strong point of the Dodgers. Right now we the Dodgers are the laughing stock of all of baseball and it's only going to get way worse. The McCourts have taken ten of millions of dollars out of the Dodgers for personal use and never put one single penny into the team. Someone must come forward to stop these two clowns. Selig, your the commissioner, please squeeze these two clowns to sell our team. I may have to stop watching baseball altogether, just like in football when the Rams left Los Angeles.
Posted by: Tede51 | 03/06/2011 at 10:54 PM
J.A. Adande was right on on ATH. Where is Selig as the Dodgers are crumbling before our eyes. Our beloved Dodgers. Where is the accountibility as he shoved the McCourts down our throats. He needs to apologize to every single Dodgers fan out there. The McCourts have sucked the blue blood out of me. The worst part is the Giants are the champs. I can't even lift my head high. I'm so ashamed. I'm happy to say I haven't gone to a Dodgers game in a while. I won't do it with these owners. I hope those of you that go on Opening Day make a statement.
Posted by: Adrian | 03/13/2011 at 02:38 PM
> The last time the Dodger fans threw objects en masse (souvenir baseballs) onto the field, it resulted in a Dodger forfeit.
Right. Like the Dodgers will miss the NL West title by one game this season.
Posted by: BrianWilsonsVag | 03/25/2011 at 02:57 PM