Gene Maddaus| Frank McCourt |
Would the Dodger divorce trial be complete without an appearance from Vladimir Shpunt?
Dexter O'Connell sure didn't think so. On the fifth day of trial, O'Connell, 19, came to court wearing a Dodger jersey with “Vladimir” written across the front. On the back, he had written “SHPUNT IS MY HOMEBOY.”
Shpunt, of course, was the psychic who the Dodgers paid to send telepathic messages to the team from his home in Boston. How could you have a circus without him?
O'Connell, who is from Venice, said he has been following the trial intently. He's a sophomore at the University of Chicago and a lifelong Dodger fan, who seems annoyed that Dodger players were subjected to Shpunt's healing powers.
“If we could have gotten Jayson Werth some Western medical treatment, we wouldn't need Manny,” O'Connell said.
Shpunt is no longer on the Dodger payroll, so if he's sending any energy vibrations now, it's on a strictly pro bono basis.
In any case, it seems Frank McCourt doesn't need Shpunt to send him signals anymore. He has his lead counsel, Steve Susman, for that.
Frank was on the stand for the fourth day today, taking questions again from David Boies. One of Frank's arguments is that the version of Exhibit A of his marital agreement that gives Jamie co-ownership of the team is an obvious mistake because it's inconsistent with the body of the agreement.
But when Boies asked him on the stand if he believed it was inconsistent, he said no. Susman had a minor fit, and Frank quickly asked if he could change his answer.
Boies has been ignoring Susman's signals to Frank for the past several days, but in this case he decided to call him on it.
Boies: What happened at the counsel table that caused you to decide to try to go back and change your answer?
McCourt: I have no idea what you're talking about.
Susman got away with it, but the guy in the Shpunt jersey wasn't so lucky.
Judge Scott Gordon caught him talking to a friend in the back row of the courtroom, and had the friend tossed out. Looks like he needs to work on his telepathy skills.
Full McCourt coverage:
Day 11:
Wasser The Dealmaker Versus Susman The Carnivore
Day 10:
Dodger Execs Circle The Wagons Around Frank
Mediation Day:
A Long Day Ends Without A Deal
Day 9:
A Settlement Looms As Silverstein's Agony Ends
Day 8:
The Screwing of Larry Silverstein
The Return of Silverstein's Boner, In Which Two Interpretations Are Explained
Day 7:
Reynolds Cafferata's Dodger Dreams
Day 6:
Frank's Four Self-Defeating Arguments
Steve Susman Sharpens His Knives
Week 1 Wrap-Up:
The Desperate Hunt For Exhibit A, Or, How To Blame The Conquistadors
Day 5:
Day 4:
Day 3:
Nervous? Frank McCourt Blinks 75 Times/Min.
Day 2:
Steve Susman Goes On The Attack
Day 1:
Trial Opens With A Win For Jamie
Even more McCourt:
L.A. Weekly cover story, Dodger Dog, from August
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.