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A Baltimore County judge is set on Thursday to hear arguments on several motions in litigation that concern the future of the Baltimore Orioles, the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos and his family fortune.
In an Oct. 14 order, Judge Keith R. Truffer laid out an agenda for the hearing, during which he will consider motions to seal documents in the case; to enter a preliminary injunction related to the operation of the law firm; and to challenge the scope of subpoenas issued to banks seeking information about the personal finances of Peter Angelos and Georgia Angelos, the Orioles and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.
Truffer is also seeking clarification on several other legal issues.
It’s the latest step in the litigation that’s revealed information about the behind-the-scenes battle between the sons of the billionaire owner of the Orioles who also started one of the most prominent law firms in Baltimore.
Peter Angelos built a legal practice as one of the first attorneys in the United States to take on asbestos litigation, represented the state of Maryland in a lawsuit against the tobacco companies that resulted in a $4.4 billion settlement, and served as the lead investor in a group that bought the Orioles in 1993.
He collapsed of heart trouble in 2017 and experiences advanced dementia, according to court documents.
Earlier this year, one of Peter Angelos’ sons, Louis Angelos, sued his older brother, John Angelos, chairman and CEO of the Orioles, and their mother, Georgia Angelos, alleging that they’re pushing him out of the family fortune and the team.
The lawsuit speculates that his older brother might want to move the team, but it does not make any allegations that John Angelos has taken steps to do so. The elder son reiterated in a statement, “As long as Fort McHenry is standing watch over the Inner Harbor, the Orioles will remain in Baltimore.”
Later, Georgia Angelos sued Louis Angelos, accusing her youngest son — in a move that allegedly amounted to elder abuse — of selling his father’s law firm to himself for a price set by an independent appraiser he gets to appoint. The due date for the first payment is not for 15 years, court documents state.
Doug Gansler, one of Georgia Angelos’ attorneys who served as Maryland attorney general from 1999-2007, filed a motion to close parts of the hearing and seal portions of the transcript to prevent disclosure of financial and health information.
The Baltimore Sun filed a motion to intervene. Truffer denied the request to close the courtroom, according to online court records.
A scheduling order in the case states that a trial would begin on July 10, 2023 if a resolution is not reached.
Thursday’s hearing is set to begin at 9 a.m. in the Baltimore County Courts Building.
dylan.segelbaum@thebaltimorebanner.com
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Dylan Segelbaum is the courts reporter at The Baltimore Banner.
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