Mets Owners: We Knew Nothing of Madoff Scam

Though they made millions in profits from Bernard Madoff's phony investment scheme, owners of the Mets knew nothing about the fraud and aren't about to turn over a dime of their money to fleeced investors, they argue in court documents. Lawyers for Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz have filed a motion to dismiss a "clawback" suit against them that aims to recover funds for scammed Madoff investors. If successful, the clawback suit could force them to repay some 20 years of investments, including $300 million in "fake" profits and $700 million in principal, reports the New York Daily News.

The action argues that the partners "knew or should have known" that the Madoff investments were fraudulent because there were too many obvious signs to ignore. But an attorney for the Mets claims the action is a bid to extract a "huge and unwarranted settlement." A statement from Wilpon and Katz stresses: "Let us be very clear: We did not know that Madoff was engaged in a fraud. There were no red flags and we received no warnings." An attorney for the trustee filing clawback suits on behalf of scammed investors responded: "The Katz Wilpon defendants are wrong on the facts and the law. The trustee will prevail." (More Fred Wilpon stories.)