Judge Kevin Gross from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware Friday said five anti-Frank McCourt fan letters entered into the Dodgers bankruptcy case docket this week will be removed, and no new ones will be accepted. The fans have no legal standing in the case, and Gross in his ruling made it clear he has received the fans' message of frustration toward McCourt. "The Court well understands the right and motivation of fans to express their concerns for the baseball team they love, and the Court respects their passion," Gross wrote. "Nonetheless, it is not proper for the Court to docket fans' letters."
Meanwhile, MLB today also moved to compel discovery from HighBridge Capital Management regarding its proposal of interim Dodgers financing that is preferred by the club. HighBridge contends it is only a third party, and says deposing company executives would be duplicative to depositions from the Dodgers. But MLB told the court today that deposing HighBridge "is all the more critical now the (Dodgers) have indicated they do not intend to make Mr. McCourt available for a deposition in connection with their (debtor-in-possession financing) motion."
McCourt had been scheduled to be deposed on Wednesday. HighBridge, in its own letter to Gross Friday, countered further MLB's discovery request is "burdensome and unnecessary," and would require the disclosure of "commercially sensitive and confidential information." Gross is scheduled to hold a July 20 hearing in Wilmington, Del., on the rival interim financing proposals for the Dodgers from HighBridge and MLB.
