McCourt legal drama 'going to be pretty ugly'

Let's just get this out in the open: yes, the families and the affected employees are certain to feel pain and be in turmoil. But for the media in town, the war between Frank and Jamie McCourt promises to be a great, running L.A. story. Already is; that's just the way it is. Who the lawyers are tells you that this won't be a quietly resolved dissolution — Marshall Grossman for Frank, Dennis Wasser for Jamie. Wasser says today that Jamie is half-owner in the Dodgers and "has no interest in surrendering her ownership involvement," according to Bill Shaikin in the L.A. Times, who adds an intriguing quote from within baseball:

"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."

Grossman's spin last night was that Frank McCourt alone owns the Dodgers. "We disagree with his conclusion," Wasser says. Also this: "We are disappointed that Mr. McCourt's attorney has chosen to express legal positions in the press, in violation of the parties' specific agreement not to make any public statements about this private matter. Jamie McCourt had desired just to focus on the Dodgers' success in postseason play." Game on!

Also see: Mark Lacter's first take at LA Biz Observed