Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt fires wife Jamie

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has fired his estranged wife, Jamie, from her position as the team’s chief executive, triggering what her attorney said would be an imminent legal response.

“Jamie is disappointed and saddened by her termination,” attorney Dennis Wasser said Thursday. “As co-owner of the Dodgers, she will address this and all other issues in the courtroom.”

Wasser would not say whether she would continue to occupy her office at Dodger Stadium. He said that would depend on the outcome of legal proceedings he expected to initiate “in the next couple weeks.”

While Frank McCourt is pressing ahead with the business of the team, including Tuesday’s announcement of a long-term contract extension for General Manager Ned Colletti, Jamie McCourt is believed to be lining up investors for a possible effort to buy her husband out and gain sole control of the team.

In addition, she was believed to have started calling prominent baseball figures, with the intention of arranging meetings to discuss the direction of the team.

The McCourts announced their separation last week. Both McCourts, through their attorneys, have claimed ownership, setting the stage for a vigorous legal battle.

The Dodgers’ season ended when they were eliminated from the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night.

The news release announcing Colletti’s extension the previous day had quoted Frank McCourt and Dodgers President Dennis Mannion and made no mention of Jamie McCourt.

Marshall Grossman, the attorney for Frank McCourt, would not confirm the firing of Jamie McCourt.

“The Dodgers’ policy is not to comment on any personnel issues,” Grossman said.

Grossman said last week that Frank McCourt is the sole owner of the team, with documents to support his position.

Wasser said last week that Jamie McCourt shares in the ownership of the team and that he is unaware of any document that would override California’s community property law, in which all assets accumulated during marriage are split 50-50 in the absence of a settlement.

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