DOVER, Del. -- The judge presiding over the Los Angeles Dodgers bankruptcy case has formally appointed a mediator, who is charged with trying to get the team and Major League Baseball to settle their differences over a reorganization plan for the Dodgers.
Joseph Farnan Jr., a retired federal district judge in Delaware, has been working with the two sides since early July at the request of bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross.
This week, Gross entered an order formally appointing Farnan as a mediator, with the Dodgers and Commissioner Bud Selig to split his fees. Gross says the mediation will be confidential.
The judge has scheduled four days of hearings starting Oct. 31 to consider dueling motions by the Dodgers and MLB that likely will determine the fate of the ball club.