By Bill Shaikin�/�Los Angeles Times
Friday, September 9, 2011 -
LOS ANGELES ? An attorney for Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt dismissed a $1.2-billion bid for the team as a "publicity stunt," according to documents filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court.
McCourt remains steadfast in his intention not to sell the Dodgers, two people familiar with his thinking but not authorized to discuss it publicly said Thursday.
McCourt received the $1.2-billion offer on Aug. 30, from a group headed by Los Angeles Marathon founder Bill Burke and funded in large part by financial institutions owned by the Chinese government.
Ryan Kirkpatrick, an attorney for Frank McCourt, called the offer "unsolicited" in a Sept. 1 email sent to Michael Kump, an attorney for Jamie McCourt.
"It?s hard to see it as anything but a publicity stunt," Kirkpatrick wrote in the email, included in a filing on behalf of Jamie McCourt.
Frank McCourt has not responded publicly to the Burke bid. In the court filing, however, Dennis Wasser, another attorney for Jamie McCourt, cited "Frank?s choice to turn down the recent $1.2-billion purchase offer" and wrote that "Frank has stated that he will not accept any offer ... because he wants to do everything possible to hang onto the team."
Steve Sugerman, a spokesman for Frank McCourt, declined comment.
Ex-wife Jamie McCourt had asked the divorce court in May to order the immediate sale of the Dodgers. The team filed for bankruptcy protection in June, and she subsequently withdrew her request in deference to the Bankruptcy Court.
Burke has declined to comment about his offer. However, the Kirkpatrick email appears to rebut suggestions circulating within Major League Baseball?s offices that Burke had somehow allied with McCourt on a bid that could be used to set the market for an eventual sale price.
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