McCourt Attorneys Head Back to Court

Los Angeles - Attorneys representing Frank and Jamie McCourt in their divorce proceedings said today it could be a long time before a decision is reached on whether she has an ownership interest in the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A one-day "characterization" trial had been scheduled today before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon to determine if the team is community property or the sole property of Frank McCourt.

But with the team in bankruptcy court in Delaware and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig rejecting a proposed $3 billion television-rights deal with Fox, the hearing was put on an indefinite hold.

Gordon rescheduled a hearing on Frank McCourt's request to lower his spousal support payments to his ex-wife from next Wednesday to Sept. 14. Attorneys for Jamie McCourt, speaking after the hearing, said they were skeptical of Frank McCourt's claims his assets are diminishing.

In the meantime, attorneys were asked to file papers on whether the team's pending bankruptcy proceeding should hold up a final decision on whether Jamie has an ownership interest in the team.

In June, Frank and Jamie McCourt reached an agreement on the division of their property. Key to the settlement, however, was the Fox deal, which Frank McCourt valued at $3 billion and would have included a $385 million up-front payment, almost half of which would have gone to the McCourts. Jamie McCourt gave her blessing to the Fox deal as part of the settlement, as did Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon.

But one day later, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig rejected the media-rights deal, saying he was concerned that it diverted too much money away from the team and directly to McCourt.

On June 27, the Dodgers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware. That case is still pending, but a Delaware judge rejected Frank McCourt's proposed interim financing arrangement and told him instead to negotiate a deal with better terms with Major League Baseball.

McCourt has been reluctant to pursue such a move, given his stormy relationship with Selig, whom he contends is trying to force him out as owner.

Selig has already appointed a monitor to oversee the team's operations.