McCourt settlement discussions to resume

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Negotiations to settle the divorce case between Frank and Jamie McCourt are expected to resume this week, according to sources on both sides.

In any settlement, Frank would be expected to retain control of the Dodgers and Jamie would be expected to bow out. The McCourts had negotiated before the divorce trial began Aug. 30, but they were hundreds of millions of dollars apart.

The parties had put off further discussions until testimony had been heard from each of the McCourts and from Larry Silverstein, the attorney who negotiated the now-disputed agreement that Frank says gives him sole control of the Dodgers. Jamie claims that the agreement should be invalidated and that she is a co-owner.

The McCourts have concluded their testimony. Silverstein is expected to conclude his testimony Wednesday or Thursday.

Each party would take a significant risk by letting the matter be decided by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon. If Gordon were to rule in Frank’s favor, Jamie would receive not a penny from a team that makes hundreds of millions in revenue every year. If Gordon were to rule in Jamie’s favor, Frank would risk losing control of a team he says he hopes to pass on to his sons.

-- Bill Shaikin