"Billionaire Padres owner accused of silencing lawsuits by bullying youth-sports franchises: sources"
Peter Seidler, the billionaire owner of the San Diego Padres, is facing accusations of using aggressive tactics to silence lawsuits brought by youth-sports franchises against his company, Unleashed Brands. The franchises have alleged hidden fees, false promises, and attempts to prevent the formation of franchisee associations. Unleashed Brands has also been accused of trying to boycott trade publication Franchise Times after it published critical stories about the company. Seidler, known for his generous spending on players, has a reputation for being tough and penny-pinching in his franchising empire, which includes over 1,000 businesses.