The San Diego Padres are in the middle of a custody battle.
Sheel Kamal Seidler, the widow of late team owner Peter Seidler, has filed a lawsuit against his two brothers in an attempt to take control of the team.
The widow has alleged in her complaint that Peter, before his death, revealed that his dying wish was for her to take control of the Parents, followed by her children, and that her children have the largest share in the property. He adds that Peter’s two brothers, Matt and Bob, “are trying to erase Peter’s vision and legacy, as well as falsely present themselves as Peter’s true heirs.”
The lawsuit also alleges that Bob’s wife made multiple “racist, profane, and hateful communications directed at Sheel, a woman of Indian descent, in the communications.”
The widow issued a statement addressing the complaint on social media.
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San Diego Padres President Peter Seidler and President of Baseball Operations and General Manager AJ Preller speak during the San Diego Padres Fan Fest at PETCO Park on February 4, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
“The complaint alleges claims against Matthew and Robert for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. I urge anyone interested in the details to read the full complaint. This was not a decision I made lightly. During this difficult period, I have made I have done everything in my power to avoid unwanted distractions and resolve the matter privately to support the work of the many dedicated professionals within the Padres organization, as well as the incredible players we have the privilege of watching. almost every day during season.
“I made this decision as a last resort, but I am confident that it is the right one and the best way to protect the Padres franchise and ensure that the vision Peter and I share for the team continues.”
Matt issued a statement via Sportico, stating that Sheel’s allegations are “baseless.”
“The complaint filed by Sheel Seidler, the widow of Peter Seidler, is completely without merit,” Seidler said. “Peter had a clear estate plan. The plan specifically named three of his nine siblings, with whom he had worked closely over many decades, as successor trustees of his trust, and Peter himself prohibited Sheel from serving as a trustee.”
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San Diego Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar, left, is restrained by teammates after protesting to umpires when objects were thrown at him in the outfield during the seventh inning of Game 2 of a National League Division Series baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. October 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Peter died in November 2023 at the age of 63. He had been sick for months, although exactly what he had been dealing with has not been revealed. Seidler is a cancer survivor who had health problems for quite some time.
He said in July 2023 that the Fathers would remain within their family for generations after their passing.
Seidler was the founder of Seidler Equity Partners, which was a key player in the group that bought the Padres in 2012. Seidler’s uncle, also named Peter, and Ron Fowler were also part of the group.
The group’s name derives from Seidler’s grandfather, Walter O’Malley, who owned the Dodgers from 1950, when they first moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, until 1979. Fowler transferred the position of president to Seidler in 2020, and then Seidler bought out Fowler’s stake in the organization to become the team’s largest shareholder.
San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler watches before the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Before his death, he doled out a series of big-ticket contracts to superstar players in an effort to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and win a World Series.
These contracts include Manny Machado’s $350 million deal, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million deal, Xander Bogaertz’s $280 million deal, and Yu Darvish’s $108 million deal.
The Athletic reported in November 2023 that the team took out a $50 loan to help pay contract costs.
