Wife of late Padres owner Peter Seidler sues for control of team - ESPN

Sheel Seidler, the widow of late San Diego Padres chairman Peter Seidler, sued two of his brothers Monday in an attempt to become the team's control person.

In a complaint filed in Texas court, Sheel Seidler claims she and her three children have been «effectively ostracized» from the organization since Peter Seidler's death 14 months ago. The suit names Robert and Matthew Seidler as defendants, accusing the brothers of «fiduciary breaches of trust, fraud, conversion and egregious acts of self-dealing» in their roles as trustees and executors of Peter Seidler's trusts.

The Padres announced Dec. 21 that Peter's oldest brother, John Seidler, would become the team's control person, which Sheel opposed and claims went against her late husband's wishes.

"[A]s the holder of the largest individual ownership stake in the San Diego Padres, and the sole beneficiary of the Seidler Trusts, which possesses exclusive rights with respect to control of the franchise, I am seeking to be named the control person of the Padres," Sheel Seidler wrote in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Padres declined to comment, citing the team's stance regarding pending legal matters. Representatives for Robert and Matthew Seidler could not immediately be reached for comment.

Peter Seidler, a two-time cancer survivor, died from complications of an infection on Nov. 14, 2023, leaving behind Sheel and their children, now ages 4, 9 and 11. Eric Kutsenda, a longtime friend and business partner, was named interim control person before essentially turning responsibilities over to John Seidler 13 months later.

Sheel Seidler's complaint claims assurances from Peter's four brothers that they would act for the benefit of Sheel and the children have «shown to be