Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023

Sterling was apologetic after the audio recording went viral, but his mea culpa backfired when he criticized Lakers great Magic Johnson, who had been photographed with Sterling’s girlfriend, as a bad role model for kids because he had HIV. Sterling was roundly condemned from locker rooms to the Oval Office, where President Barack Obama called Sterling’s remarks “incredibly offensive racist statements.”

With the NBA threatening to seize the team and auction it, Sterling initially gave his wife of 58 years permission to negotiate a sale but then refused to sign the $2 billion Ballmer deal, which would be a record price for an NBA team. He said he would sue the league instead and then revoked the trust, which his lawyers said effectively killed the deal.

The nonjury trial held over several weeks focused mainly on whether Shelly Sterling properly removed her husband as a trustee and whether her actions carried any weight after he revoked the trust.

Donald Sterling claimed his wife had deceived him about the medical exams. His lawyers argued Monday that Shelly Sterling’s lawyers were in cahoots with the doctors who examined him and that his wife conspired with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to remove him from the trust.

“There’s no evidence, I’ll repeat that as loudly as you allow,” attorney Maxwell Blecher said during closing arguments, his voice rising. “There’s no evidence that Mr. Sterling was incapable of carrying out his duties as a co-trustee.”

Levanas said there was no credible evidence that Sterling was defrauded.

Blecher said he was deeply disappointed in the judge’s legal analysis.

The ruling Monday was tentative until the judge files it in writing.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement that the league was pleased and looked forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible.

At the conclusion of his lengthy ruling, Levanas envisioned what might happen if Donald Sterling remained the owner.

Citing testimony of Clippers interim CEO Richard Parsons, he said the team would go into a “death spiral.” Sponsors would withdraw, players would quit and coach Doc Rivers would leave.

“The Clippers would suffer a massive loss of value if the team survived at all,” Levanas said.

The judge was adamant that a team owned by Donald Sterling would not draw a price anywhere near the “stunning” $2 billion pledged by Ballmer. Sterling, a lawyer who made a fortune as a landlord, bought the team in 1981 for $12 million.

“Ballmer paid an amazing price that can’t be explained by the market,” he said.

On the witness stand, Shelly Sterling was more credible than her husband, who was more evasive, gave inconsistent answers and presented wild fluctuations of damage estimates, Levanas said.

He noted that the couple presented genuine professions of love for each other despite Donald Sterling’s outburst calling his wife a “pig” after she testified.

Outside of court, his wife said she thought her husband would be happy with the ruling. She said she thinks he will ultimately drop his antitrust suit in federal court against the NBA and the lawsuit he filed in state court against his wife, Silver and the league.

Her lawyer wasn’t so sure. Asked what might stop the deal, Pierce O’Donnell said: “Donald.”

“He never met a lawsuit he didn’t like,” he quipped.

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