Padres’ late owner’s widow sues for control of team from his siblings
The San Diego Padres, a Major League Baseball team, are currently embroiled in a custody battle following the death of team owner Peter Seidler. Sheel Kamal Seidler, Peter’s widow, has filed a lawsuit against his two brothers, Matt and Bob, in an attempt to seize control of the team. The lawsuit alleges that Peter, before his passing, expressed his dying wish for Sheel to take control of the Padres, followed by their children, with the children holding the largest stake in ownership. Sheel claims that Peter’s brothers are attempting to undermine his vision and legacy, and falsely position themselves as the rightful heirs.
Adding another layer to the legal battle, the lawsuit also accuses Bob’s wife of making racist, profane, and hateful remarks towards Sheel, who is of Indian descent. Sheel addressed the complaint on social media, stating that she had made the decision to file the lawsuit as a last resort to protect the Padres franchise and uphold the shared vision she had with Peter for the team’s future.
In response to the lawsuit, Matt Seidler released a statement refuting Sheel’s claims, stating that they are “entirely without merit.” He emphasized that Peter had a clear estate plan in place, which excluded Sheel from serving as a trustee and named three of his siblings as successor trustees.
Peter Seidler, who passed away in November 2023 at the age of 63, had been battling illness for several months prior to his death. As the founder of Seidler Equity Partners, he played a significant role in the group that purchased the Padres in 2012. Seidler’s vision for the team included securing high-cost contracts for star players such as Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaertz, and Yu Darvish in an effort to compete with rival teams in the NL West division and win a World Series.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, the Padres continue to operate under the direction of the Seidler family. The team took out a $50 million loan to help cover the costs of the lucrative player contracts, demonstrating their commitment to fielding a competitive roster.
The outcome of the custody battle remains uncertain, but the Padres organization remains focused on upholding Peter Seidler’s legacy and maintaining their competitive edge in the MLB. Fans and stakeholders alike will be closely following the developments in this legal saga as it unfolds.
