Judge sides with MLB in Dodgers’ bankruptcy hearing

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Major League Baseball does not have to turn over a wide range of documents to the Dodgers or make Commissioner Bud Selig available for a deposition, the judge in the Dodgers’ bankruptcy hearing ruled on Thursday.

‘This is clearly, in my mind, not an appropriate occasion to turn this hearing into a trial on the commissioner,’ U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross said.

Gross’ ruling sets up a July 20 hearing, at which he will decide whether Dodgers owner Frank McCourt can use his own financing during the bankruptcy process. MLB has offered to extend a loan on better terms -- at a lower rate of interest and without $9.75 million in fees. McCourt argued that he should not be compelled to accept a loan from MLB because the league is ‘overtly hostile’ toward him, and his attorneys claimed that the documents and deposition would be necessary to show how Selig had treated the Dodgers far differently than other teams in financial trouble.

Gross did not dispute that those issues might arise over the course of the bankruptcy proceedings. However, he denied the Dodgers’ motion that he order the league to turn over 31 categories of documents -- in matters ranging from the financial records of the New York Mets to security at Angel Stadium -- in advance of the July 20 hearing

‘On the issue of financing, the discovery seems to be not relevant,’ Gross said.

We’ll have more later at Latimes.com/sports.

RELATED:

Dodgers’ statement on bankruptcy court ruling

Poor Dodgers lose fifth in a row, 5-3

MLB says Frank McCourt isn’t entitled to documents

-- Bill Shaikin