Donald Sterling is as stubborn as he is inappropriate, vowing now not only to not sell the Los Angles Clippers, but to sue all involved in the attempt to oust him. It’s all a lot for Doc Rivers, who is disgusted with the notion of working for the embattled Sterling, whose recorded racist rants were recorded and released by a girlfriend.
Sterling has filed a new civil lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking damages from his wife, the NBA and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in their attempt to sell the the L.A. Clippers for $2 billion to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Court documents filled Tuesday call the potential sale “unlawful” and “fraudulent,” and ask for an injunction to block the sale. Reports have surface that Rivers would resign if Sterling maintained ownership.
“Donald’s latest lawsuit is a frivolous, last ditch act of desperation by a delusional, bitter man,” said Pierce O’Donnell, an attorney for Sterling’s estranged wife, Shelly.
“This action shows once more how obsessed he is with ruining a record-setting $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers — a sale that would solve the problems his racist rant started three months ago.”
The ongoing court case could determine if Shelly Sterling properly wrested control of the franchise from her husband.
Donald Sterling revoked the family trust in June, and Tuesday’s lawsuit contends that the move reverted the Clippers back to his sole ownership and therefore, Shelly Sterling has no power or right to sell the team. All the stock for the franchise was issued in his name.
No trial date has been set for the case to be heard, and it’s unclear how long Ballmer will be willing to keep his offer on the table as the Sterling saga continues.
Donald Sterling has said he believes the team may be worth twice the record $2 billion price his wife negotiated with Ballmer, said Maxwell Blecher, another attorney for Sterling.
