L.A. Times: McCourts could be gearing up for a battle in divorce court

Jamie McCourt has no interest in surrendering her ownership involvement with the Dodgers and has no plans to leave her post as chief executive officer, her attorney said today.

The statements set the stage for what could be a protracted battle for control of the club between Jamie McCourt and her husband, Frank, who announced their separation late Wednesday.

“I firmly believe each of them is going to try to keep the team,” a high-ranking baseball source said today, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.

“I think it’s going to be pretty ugly.”

Although Frank McCourt is listed as the owner and franchise “control person,” to major league baseball, the source said the couple presented themselves together for the approval of Commissioner Bud Selig, in advance of the McCourts’ 2004 purchase of the Dodgers.

Marshall Grossman, the attorney for Frank McCourt, told The Times Wednesday night that McCourt is the sole owner of the Dodgers.

“We disagree with his conclusion,” said Dennis Wasser, the attorney for Jamie McCourt. “We are confident that, if the ownership issue must be adjudicated, the Dodgers will be determined to be community property, owned 50% by each of the McCourts.”

Grossman said the breakup of the McCourts’ marriage would not result in “another San Diego-like debacle,” a reference to the Padres’ sale. The team was considered community property under California law and was sold amid the divorce of John Moores, who would have preferred to keep the team, and his wife Becky.