The wife of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler filed a lawsuit against two of his siblings on Monday in her effort to take control of the franchise.
Sheel Kamal Seidler submitted a complaint in Texas probate court asserting that she and her three children have been “essentially excluded” from the Padres since Peter Seidler passed away in November 2023.
She additionally claimed that brothers Bob and Matt Seidler, who are trustees of the Seidler trust, colluded to sell trust assets to themselves at “significantly below-market rates,” violating their fiduciary responsibilities.
A representative from the trust described the complaint as “completely baseless.”
Sheel Seidler stated that prior to his passing, Peter Seidler expressed his desire for her to manage the Padres, with their children succeeding her. Sheel Seidler stated that she and her kids possess the biggest share in ownership.
“The complaint claims that they (the brothers) are attempting to eliminate Peter’s vision and legacy, while also misleadingly presenting themselves as Peter’s genuine heirs.”
Among her various allegations, she claimed that Robert and Matthew Seidler have endeavored to keep her from charity events held in honor of her late husband and have “made it obvious” that she and her children are unwelcome in the owner’s box at Petco Park.
The complaint states that the brothers “not only ignored the unmistakable terms and intent of the will and trust document that Peter established, but they also have deliberately plotted to seize for themselves the estate and Seidler trusts’ value rights and properties.”
“They accomplished this by misleading Sheel, participating in conflicting transactions and outrageous self-dealing acts. When Sheel raised concerns and questioned their actions, they retaliated by belittling and trying to intimidate her—using trust assets to hire lawyers to threaten her into submission and silence,” as stated in the complaint.
A representative of the trust replied via email to Field Level Media, affirming that the trust’s intent is clear.
