Tag Archive for: post-nuptial agreements

Dodgers Divorce Closer to Resolution: Part I

The Dodgers are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball, and one of baseball’s most valuable teams. The team has been in some turmoil, mainly for off the field reasons. Most importantly, who will own the team for next season depends on the ruling in a divorce case.

Frank McCourt bought the team for approximately $355 million in 2004. This year, Forbes Magazine estimated the team’s value at $727 million including Dodger stadium and other team-owned facilities. Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie, have been married since 1979 and were both active in owning and managing the team. However, in 2009 Frank McCourt fired Jamie McCourt as chief executive of the team. Shortly thereafter, Jamie filed for divorce from Frank.

Frank is claiming full ownership of the Dodgers based on a post-nuptial agreement they signed after purchasing the team, but before moving from Massachusetts to California. The post-nuptial agreement would give Frank complete ownership of the Dodgers, and Jamie would receive sole ownership of the McCourts’ vast real estate holdings.

Like Wisconsin, California is a community property state. In a community property system, the property of both spouses is considered to be marital property and each spouse has half-interest in all marital property. When a couple divorces, the marital property must be divided between them. Jamie McCourt is arguing that the post-nuptial agreement is invalid under community property law, and therefore she is entitled to a 50 percent share in the Dodgers.

They presently have a divorce case pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court. That case would rule on the validity of the post-nuptial agreement and determine who gets what in the McCourt divorce. While that case is pending, the McCourts are also participating in mediation, a form of dispute resolution that bypasses the courts and gives the parties an opportunity to reach a negotiated compromise. In our next post, we will go into more detail on the McCourts’ mediation and the case that is presently pending in court.

Sources: Los Angeles Times: Mediator gives McCourts settlement proposal; Bill Shaikin, 11/19/2010

Forbes.com: The Business Of Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers (http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/33/baseball-valuations-10_Los-Angeles-Dodgers_338671.html)

Dodgers Divorce Closer to Resolution: Part II

In our last post, we discussed the Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce. Unless they can reach a settlement, the judge in the McCourt’s divorce case will determine the ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ownership of the Dodgers will depend on the validity of the McCourts’ post-nuptial agreement and an interpretation of California’s system of community property law- a system similar to Wisconsin law.

While their divorce case is pending, the McCourts have also participated in mediation in an attempt to reach a compromise. Last week, the judge overseeing the mediation met with each of the McCourts separately and advised them of how he believes they should divide ownership of the Dodgers.

While the mediator ordered that the parties not publicly discuss the mediation, reports indicate they have until the end of the month to accept or reject the mediator’s recommendation. Reports also indicate that the mediator’s opinion would give Jamie an interest in the Dodgers. Although the details of the mediator’s opinion are presently confidential, past settlement and mediation discussions do shed some light on what is being discussed.

The McCourts have attempted to reach a settlement many times, both with and without a mediator. In the past, discussions between the McCourts have established that Jamie would give up her interest in the Dodgers and Frank would compensate her. However, the parties have been unable to come to terms on how much should be paid. If the McCourts cannot settle this issue, it will be up to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon to make a ruling on the post-nuptial agreement and the ownership of the Dodgers. Judge Gordon has until December 29 to rule in the case.

Almost any divorce has the potential to have very complex issues that can be difficult to resolve. The McCourt divorce demonstrates that when there are significant assets in dispute, property division issues can be difficult to settle by compromise alone. The McCourts have made several attempts at reaching a negotiated compromise, but if they cannot reach a compromise then this case will be in the hands of a judge.

Sources: Los Angeles Times: Mediator gives McCourts settlement proposal; Bill Shaikin, 11/19/2010

Forbes.com: The Business Of Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers (http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/33/baseball-valuations-10_Los-Angeles-Dodgers_338671.html)

Jamie McCourt wins Ruling in Dodgers Divorce

Previously, we posted about the divorce between Frank and Jamie McCourt that will determine who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers. Frank and Jamie participated in mediation in an attempt to reach a property division settlement, however their mediation failed. Without a settlement in place, it was up to Judge Scott Gordon to rule on the issue of who owns the Dodgers and whether a post-nuptial agreement between the McCourts was binding.

If valid, the agreement would give Frank McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers. Tuesday, Judge Gordon threw out the post-nuptial property division agreement, a decision that could make Jamie McCourt part owner of the team and could result in protracted property division litigation.

Judge Gordon found the post-nuptial agreement invalid based on errors occurring when the McCourts signed the agreement. During the trial, the attorneys for both sides reviewed the documents and found that the McCourts signed six copies of the agreement. Three of the copies listed the Dodgers as Frank’s sole property, but three copies did not.

Frank McCourt could decide to appeal Judge Gordon’s ruling, but he is already employing another legal strategy. Frank has informed the court that he is claiming sole ownership of the Dodgers on the theory he bought the franchise using the assets of a company he established before he married Jamie.

The parties disagree on how long it would take to resolve this new claim. Frank’s attorneys believe this new property division claim could be resolved in a one-day trial based upon evidence that has already been introduced into the record. Jamie’s attorneys believe the trial could require up to 60 days and months to collect new evidence.

As an alternative to further court proceedings, this ruling may bring the McCourts back to the negotiation table to settle their property division contest. Past negotiations focused on Jamie giving up her interest in the Dodgers and Frank compensating her, but they could never come to terms on a deal. During the past negotiations, the post-nuptial agreement was an unknown variable. Now that there has been a ruling on the issue, the McCourts may now feel they have a better understanding of their rights and be able to reach a compromise.

Source: Los Angeles Times, “Dodgers’ ownership in limbo after judge throws out McCourt property agreement,” Bill Shaikin and Carla Hall, 12/7/2010