Sterling to file $1 billion lawsuit against NBA

[Guest]

Shelly Sterling has come to an agreement with billionaire Steve Ballmer to sell ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers and potentially avoid the NBA having to vote for terminating the ownership of the franchise by the Sterling family. While the NBA's Board of Governors is still expecting to hold the vote just to make sure there isn't any stalling by the Sterlings and to make sure Adam Silver's punishment get executed if needed, a voluntary sale of the team was an admitted preferred outcome by the commissioner. That should just about wrap this situation up, right?

Incorrect. Max Blecher, Donald Sterling's attorney, confirmed in an email to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports that Sterling plans to file a $1 billion lawsuit against the NBA. After being banned for life from the NBA and having the process of removal of ownership set in motion, Sterling will not go quietly into the night. He's opting to create further litigation on the matter.

This lawsuit would be seeking damages for the punishment levied by Silver.

Considering the NBA's constitution and by-laws that Sterling has agreed to, it seems unlikely he has much ground to stand on. He received this punishment after leaked audio tapes of racist comments were made public and sent a shockwave throughout the NBA during the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Silver acted swiftly and bluntly in immediately attempting to separate Sterling from the league.

Sterling also may be looking to file a separate lawsuit to attempt to block the sale of ownership from Shelly Sterling to Steve Ballmer.

This just won't end.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-...gainst-the-nba

I wonder if this is being done to hopefully dissuade the NBA from blocking the sale. If not, it's going to be a long, drawn out process and not good for the league.

[TeflonDonny]

I wonder if this is being done to hopefully dissuade the NBA from blocking the sale. If not, it's going to be a long, drawn out process and not good for the league.

Shelley Sterling and the NBA have already have a settlement where the Sterling Trust will cover any damages if Donald Sterling sues the NBA. So even if they have to pay him his own trust will pay the NBA back plus pay their legal fees.

[Diivox]

Sterling was ready and willing to fight tooth and nail... and then he found out the winning bid was 2 billion and he was like, oh, okay, well half of that is what I was suing for anyway, let's do it