McCourt accused of looting $190M from Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - Dodgers owner Frank McCourt looted nearly $190 million from the Los Angeles team, using the money for non-baseball use in violation of Major League Baseball rules, according to Delaware bankruptcy court documents filed on Monday.
It's the first time the league has specified an amount, the Los Angeles Times said.
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MLB Commissioner Bud Selig wants to oust McCourt.
Using team revenue for non-baseball use is one of 10 MLB rules broken by McCourt, the league said. A violation of any league rules are grounds for termination of McCourt's franchise.
The league claimed McCourt funneled $73 million in parking revenue through Blue Land Co., a non-team related entity, and he used $61 million in team revenue to pay off personal debts. The court documents also said McCourt took $55 million from team revenue for personal use.
"The Dodgers are in bankruptcy because McCourt has taken almost $190 million out of the club and has completely alienated the Dodgers' fan base," the league said.
A flurry of bankruptcy documents filed Monday also said San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow, who was severely beaten in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on opening day, could be a central figure in next week's critical bankruptcy court hearing in Dover, Del. Stow lawyer Thomas Girardi has said his client's medical bills could exceed $50 million.
Stow's representatives sit on the official committee of creditors.
An earlier court document said there were 197 sworn police officers were on duty the day Stow was attacked, and it noted McCourt was the Dodgers owner to hire uniformed Los Angeles police officers.
"McCourt, however, omits the fact that he removed uniformed officers before the 2011 season, including the opening game when Stow was so seriously injured," the league responded in its filing on Monday.
The creditors' committee and Fox Sports each asked the bankruptcy judge to deny the Dodgers' bid to auction television rights. The TV deal is key to McCourt's strategy to emerge from bankruptcy as the team's owner.
The Times says the Dodgers asked the judge to extend their exclusive window to propose a restructuring plan until April 25, saying Major League Baseball and Fox refuse to work cooperatively with McCourt.