Jamie McCourt to fight in court for old Dodger job

Oct 28, 2009 - 8:31 AM By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY AND GREG RISLING Associated Press Writers

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Jamie McCourt will head to court Wednesday to ask a judge to reinstate her as the Dodgers' chief executive, a week after her team-owner husband fired her.

Jamie McCourt on Tuesday filed for divorce from Frank McCourt after 30 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences, but Wednesday's hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court will center on her bid to get back her $2 million-a-year job.

Frank McCourt fired his wife as the team's chief executive last week after the Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Philadelphia Phillies.

In a declaration, Jamie McCourt claims her husband plotted to boot her from the team's front office as a way to "humiliate and ostracize" her. She said she was excluded from management decisions and had lodged a workplace harassment complaint with team attorneys.

"Frank has no right to purport to terminate me. We are co-owners of the Dodgers," she said. "Not only has Frank publicly held us out as co-owners of the franchise, he has also admitted this fact in front of our estate planning counsel."

Frank McCourt's attorney Marshall Grossman said he plans on filing documents Wednesday that spell out why Jamie McCourt was fired.

Among them - an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, failure to abide by corporate policy and insubordination. Grossman refused to elaborate. Jamie McCourt's lawyer Bert Fields declined to comment about the relationship.

Jamie McCourt's filing states she is seeking reinstatement as the team's CEO as well as access to perks including travel by private jet, stays at five-star resorts and use of the Dodgers owners' suite. She wants $321,000 a month in spousal support if reinstated to her former position. If not, she believes she should be paid nearly $488,000 per month.

The dispute comes as the Dodgers enter a busy offseason and could be a distraction when spring training arrives in February.

The team has the most potential players eligible for free agency with 16, including Manny Ramirez, who must decide if he will exercise his $20 million option for next season and return. Manager Joe Torre is headed into the final season of his three-year contract and Ned Colletti was recently given a long-term contract extension as general manager.