Donald Sterling to rename Clippers "Los Angeles Redskins"

[DigitalDrifter]

Well not really, but for those interested, the trial begins today.

Donald Sterling trial begins Monday in Los Angeles

With the potentially record-breaking $2 billion US sale of the Los Angeles Clippers hanging in the balance, a trial beginning Monday will focus on whether Donald Sterling's estranged wife had the authority under terms of a family trust to unilaterally negotiate the deal.

With the potentially record-breaking $2 billion US sale of the Los Angeles Clippers hanging in the balance, a trial beginning Monday will focus on whether Donald Sterling's estranged wife had the authority under terms of a family trust to unilaterally negotiate the deal.

Shelly Sterling struck a deal to sell the Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer after Donald Sterling's racist remarks to a girlfriend were publicized and the NBA moved to oust him as team owner.

In order to do so, she had two doctors examine her 80-year-old husband and they declared him mentally incapacitated and unable to act as an administrator of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers

More : Donald Sterling trial begins Monday in Los Angeles - Sports - MSN CA

 

[Katzndogz]

The Los Angeles brown shirts would be appropriate.

 

[shart_attack]

Sucks.

I was kinda hopin' he'd roll with the "Los Angeles Tattoos" or the "Los Angeles Floozies" or the "Los Angeles Porno Honeys", myself.

 

[DigitalDrifter]

Be interesting though to see how this comes out. If he loses in court, he gets 2 billion dollars. Not a bad way to lose.

 

[DigitalDrifter]

Okay here's an update:

Sterlings not in court as Clippers trial begins

Los Angeles (CNN) -- With neither Donald nor Shelly Sterling in the room, the trial to see who controls the Los Angeles Clippers began in a California probate court Monday afternoon.

The day started with a federal judge sending the case back to the state court, denying the claim by Donald Sterling's attorneys that his privacy rights had been violated with the release of his medical records.

With a July 15 deadline looming for the closing on Shelly Sterling's sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the probate trial began with some drama.

When her attorney Pierce O'Donnell was told he could call his first witness, he summoned Donald Sterling. Sterling was not there and the trial was briefly halted.

After the delay, one of Donald Sterling's attorneys, Gary Ruttenberg, requested the chance to make an opening statement, during which he declared: "The NBA wants to get rid of my client."

Sterling will appear in court Tuesday. Shelly Sterling came to the court Monday morning as the case was being ruled on by the federal judge but she left before the trial began in the state court.

With Donald Sterling absent, O'Donnell called Dr. Meril S. Platzer, a neurologist who examined Donald Sterling. The judge overruled his lawyer's objection to the doctor testifying.

Shelly Sterling is trying to sell the NBA team to Ballmer for $2 billion. Her husband bought the team, which he says he wants to keep, for about $12 million in 1981. The couple owns the Clippers through a trust, with each spouse being an equal trustee.

Shelly Sterling had two doctors declare her husband mentally incapacitated -- and a third doctor agreed with their assessment -- and invoked a provision in the trust that allowed her to be sole trustee.

Donald Sterling refused to sign the binding term sheet, so his wife took the matter to probate court. Donald Sterling says his wife didn't have authority to negotiate a deal with Ballmer.

Donald Sterling's lawyers have said their client was tricked into medical examinations. They also dispute their client is mentally deficient. Late last month, another doctor found Donald Sterling to be mentally fit, a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN.

Donald Sterling, 80, has been embroiled in controversy since a recording of a conversation with his friend V. Stiviano surfaced. The recording included a series of racist comments.

Sterling's comments, first posted on TMZ, sparked outrage among NBA players, executives and fans. The NBA commissioner fined Sterling $2.5 million and banned him for life from the NBA.

Sterling issued a statement last month in which he apologized for the remarks and said his apology was sincere.

The contract between Shelly Sterling and Ballmer has a July 15 deadline to close the deal, with a 30-day extension, if needed.

The NBA has a meeting the same day at which owners could approve the sale.

If the case drags on, the Sterlings face a September 15 deadline from the NBA to sell team.

Before the proposed sale was announced, the league had begun proceedings to terminate the Sterlings' ownership rights.

Sterlings not in court as Clippers trial begins - CNN.com

 

[Snouter]

Geraldo needs to audit Sterling and find out how a hapless lawyer was able to obtain so much real estate in Los Angeles in 60's. There must be some reason he was able to buy up all those apartments, isn't there?

 

[Mad_Cabbie]

So, doctors are inconsistent with the diagnoses of Sterling not being of sound mind? This really puzzles me, well, no, actually this happens all day long in court in America.

If he were not of sound mind, why are they forcing a sale of the team, all because of a few comments he made? Sounds rather commie to me.

In fact, this whole thing is a G.D. farce.