McCourt Divorce Lawyer Plays RAIDS Card

West Hollywood officials condemned a statement made by Dennis Wasser, the lawyer for soon-to-be ex-wife of Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, saying the team owner suffered from RAIDS, or "recently acquired income deficiency syndrome."

McCourt lives in West Hollywood, Los Angeles's famous gay suburb. He and his wife, Jamie (pictured, right), are in the middle of a messy divorce dispute, which includes issues concerning ownership of the team. His attorney issued a statement saying Wasser's statements "are shameful, insensitive and reflect very poorly on Mrs. McCourt and her legal team," according to the Los Angeles Times.

West Hollywood city council member Lindsey Horvath condemned "this thoughtless analogy and would hope that Mrs. McCourt's representatives would show more compassion toward those who suffer the horrific effects of HIV/AIDS."

Added council member Jeffrey Prang: "In what is already a personally difficult and messy divorce, Mrs. McCourt's attorney isn't doing his client any favors with his flippant comments. HIV/AIDS is a deadly serious disease that has claimed countless lives, and I would hope that Mr. Wasser, in the future, would exercise greater sensitivity when attempting to be clever."

Wasser later apologized for his statements, according to the Times.

"My remarks were intended to underscore Frank McCourt's sudden and disingenuous claim of poverty, not to make light of one of the most serious diseases of our time," Wasser said. "I apologize if they were insensitive and offended anyone."