Sheel Kamal Seidler, the widow of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler, has initiated legal proceedings to assert control over the MLB franchise.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in a Texas state probate court, Seidler alleges that Peter’s brothers, Bob and Matt Seidler, violated their fiduciary responsibilities as trustees of the Seidler Trust, which holds ownership of the Padres. The lawsuit accuses the brothers of engaging in “irreconcilable conflicts of interest” and conspiring to acquire trust assets at “significantly below-market prices” in an effort to consolidate their control of the team.

Sheel Seidler asserts that prior to his death in November 2023, Peter Seidler expressed his intention for her to serve as the team’s control person, with their children to follow in succession. She contends that Peter’s brothers, Bob and Matt Seidler, are attempting to “falsely portray themselves as Peter’s rightful heirs” and argues that, as the sole beneficiary of the Seidler Trust, she should have control of the team.

The lawsuit, filed in Travis County probate court, also alleges that Bob Seidler’s wife directed “racist, profane, and hateful communications” toward Sheel, a woman of Indian descent. It further accuses Bob and Matt Seidler of harboring racist and sexist motivations, claiming they are trying to “wrest control” of the Padres to prevent “an Indian-American woman” from taking what they view as “their family business and ancestral right.”

In a statement released through a spokesperson, trustee Matt Seidler dismissed the allegations as “entirely without merit.” He stated, “Peter had a clear estate plan, which specifically named three of his nine siblings, with whom he worked closely for decades, as successor trustees of his trust. Peter himself explicitly prohibited Sheel from ever serving as a trustee.”

The spokesperson further noted that the trustee holds sole responsibility for designating the San Diego Padres’ next control person. They also claimed that in 2020, Sheel signed a sworn document agreeing that she had no right to serve as or designate the control person and committed not to interfere with the selection process.

The statement also directly responded to Sheel’s claims regarding the appointment of John Seidler, the eldest brother of Peter, Bob, and Matt, as the Padres’ control person against her wishes. Through a spokesperson, Matt Seidler alleged that in May, Sheel had expressed support for John, stating he “would be the best control person for the Padres.”

Sheel Seidler is seeking to have Matt removed as trustee and for a receivership to take control of the trust property. She is also requesting actual and exemplary damages, attorneys’ fees, and pre- and post-judgment interest. Additionally, she wants the defendants denied compensation from the Seidler Trusts and to void any actions taken related to advancing the Padres’ control person.

In a letter to Padres fans on Monday, Sheel called the lawsuit a “last resort” but affirmed her belief that it was the right course of action. She stated, “I do not wish to litigate in public, but I will do whatever is necessary to protect my children, Peter’s legacy, and this remarkable ball club.”

The complaint alleges that Peter Seidler’s four brothers promised on his deathbed to act in the best interest of Sheel and her children, but Sheel claims this promise was unfulfilled. She contends that, during Peter’s lifetime, they regularly discussed team operations and business, with Sheel attending MLB meetings and interacting with agents. The Seidler children were also involved, including when Peter’s daughter Sadie participated in Manny Machado’s 2023 contract extension, with Peter telling both Sadie and Machado that they would soon be business partners.