Sports

McCourt Nixed Idea of Increasing Security Years Before Stowe Beating, Ex-Wife Says

Jamie McCourt testified she had wanted to add security at the stadium two years before the Brian Stow beating. But her now ex-husband said no.

The ex-wife of former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt wanted to beef up security at Dodger Stadium two years before a Northern California man was left brain-damaged by a beating in the parking lot, but her then-husband nixed the idea, according to her recent deposition testimony.

Jamie McCourt was deposed last Thursday by lawyers for Bryan Stow, whose injuries from the March 31, 2011, attack allegedly committed by Dodger fans Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood resulted in the loss of a portion of his skull.

Trial of the 44-year-old San Francisco Giant fan's lawsuit against Frank McCourt and three of his former Dodger-related entities is scheduled Jan. 7 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

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Excerpts of Jamie McCourt's deposition are attached to a motion by Stow's attorneys to compel the depositions of Frank McCourt and his former team CFO, Peter Wilhelm.

"Did you ever ask Mr. McCourt to increase the security budget?," Jamie McCourt was asked during her deposition.

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"Yes," the former Dodger CEO replied, explaining that she made the recommendation in January 2009.

Asked why she made the request, she replied, "Again, I must have felt that we needed more security along with other people on my staff. And we put together a package."

Jamie McCourt was then asked, "Do you recall ever discussing with Mr. McCourt your desire to have more eyes within the stadium?"

She replied affirmatively.

"And what was Mr. McCourt's response to those discussions?" she was asked.

"After (her staff member) put together a package requesting more money, he submitted it to the appropriate people to get it to Frank," Jamie McCourt said. "And it was denied."

She also testified that she preferred having uniformed off-duty Los Angeles police officers present during Dodger games rather than security guards in polo shirts.

"And was it important to you because you believed it provided a greater sense of security of safety to fans attending the games?," she was asked.

"I think it just makes it easier to know who to go to if you see someone in a uniform," she replied.

"Do you know whether or not Mr. McCourt had any active participation with the security department?," Jamie McCourt was asked.

"If it pertained to finances, for sure," she said.

Lawyers for Stow have filed a motion to force the depositions of Frank McCourt and Wilhelm to question them about financial decisions made regarding team operations and the effects on security.

"Mr. Wilhelm had authority in his role as CFO to terminate the head of security and did in fact exercise that power in 2010," the Stow attorneys' court papers state. "Even more importantly, Mr. Wilhelm was directly involved in the creation of the security budgets. As the CFO, it can be inferred that Mr. Wilhelm worked in close contact with Mr. McCourt. In fact, this was confirmed by Mrs. McCourt during her deposition."

Wilhelm also was the supervisor of Francine Hughes, then the vice president of stadium operations, who was "grossly unfit to serve in her position," the Stow attorneys' court papers allege.

A hearing on the motion to compel the depositions of Frank McCourt and Wilhelm is scheduled for Dec. 6.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Stow, a paramedic and father of two, in May 2011. The claims include assault, battery, negligence, premises liability, negligent hiring and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

-- City News Service


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