Dodgers bankruptcy: Frank McCourt won’t be deposed, for now

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt will not sit for a deposition in the team’s bankruptcy case at this time, meaning neither he nor Commissioner Bud Selig will have provided sworn testimony when the bankruptcy court holds a crucial hearing on July 20.

At issue in the hearing is whether the Dodgers should be financed for the rest of the season by a loan arranged by McCourt or a loan offered by Major League Baseball. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross on Thursday told attorneys for McCourt they could not depose Selig at this time, since the commissioner is not a particular expert on the MLB financing proposal.

The MLB attorneys had scheduled a deposition for McCourt on July 13. However, in a court filing Friday, an attorney for MLB wrote that the Dodgers ‘do not intend to make Mr. McCourt available for a deposition.’

The league does not plan to pursue the matter at this time, according to a person familiar with the case but not authorized to discuss it publicly. The Dodgers have agreed to provide a witness intricately knowledgeable about the terms of the financing arranged by McCourt, just as MLB has agreed to produce a witness similarly knowledgeable about the loan proposed by the league.

Both Selig and McCourt could be subject to deposition later in the case.

RELATED:

Andre Ethier to replace Shane Victorino at All-Star game

Garland to undergo surgery; done for the season

Matt Kemp will take part in All-Star home run derby

-- Bill Shaikin