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# Sterling Launches $1 Billion Lawsuit Over NBA's Lifetime Ban

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ZdFJ7Gzp.m3u8" -->
## Video: Sterling Launches $1 Billion Lawsuit Over NBA's Lifetime Ban

[Watch (HLS stream): Sterling Launches $1 Billion Lawsuit Over NBA's Lifetime Ban](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ZdFJ7Gzp.m3u8) (2:00)

![Sterling Launches $1 Billion Lawsuit Over NBA's Lifetime Ban](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/ZdFJ7Gzp/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-05-31. The Los Angeles Clippers co-owner says he did not violate the NBA's constitution with his offensive remarks._


---

Jul 27, 2023 4:44 PM UTC

---

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### Who are the wealthiest NBA owners?

[NBA Commissioner Announces Ban and Fine for Donald Sterling](/video/6JYcG5vn/)

### NBA Commissioner Announces Ban and Fine for Donald Sterling

---


## Transcript

Donald Sterling isn't throwing in the towel just yet. In the latest twist in the Sterling saga, the embattled Clippers owner announced a federal lawsuit against the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver. Sterling's attorney filed a lawsuit seeking more than one billion dollars in damages from the league for its decision to ban him for life and force him to sell The Clippers. All that came after a leaked audio recording in which Sterling made racist comments. The surprise move comes a day after Sterling's estranged wife Shelly agreed to sell the franchise to former Microsoft CEO, Steve Balmer, who bet a record breaking $ 2 billion for the team.

The league office approved that deal, which also included an agreement that the Sterling Family Trust would not sue the NBA, and would protect the league against other lawsuits. A Los Angeles attorney told USA Today, that means if Donald Sterling sues the NBA, it would appear that Mrs. Sterling and the Trust would be agreeing to cover the NBA with money from the trust and or her own personal funds. And it didn't take long for the league to issue a response to the Sterling's lawsuit, which it called predictable and entirely baseless. Among the other infirmities, there was no forced sale of his team by the NBA.

Which means his antitrust and conversion claims are completely invalid. Since it was his wife Shelly Sterling, and not the NBA that has entered into an agreement to sell the Clippers, Mr. Sterling is complaining about a set of facts that doesn't even exist. Shelly Sterling was able to sell the team without her husband's permission after he was determined mentally unfit to serve as a trustee. That decision allowed Shelly Sterling to become the sole trustee and gave her the power to make a sale. Earlier this week, two neurologists with the Family Trust diagnosed Donald Sterling with Alzheimer's disease.

No court made a ruling on the owner's mental capacity, but a source close to the issue says that isn't necessary, according to the Family's Trust bylaws. Donald Sterling's lawsuit claims he never violated the NBA's constitution. And that the audio recording of him was obtained illegally. It also calls for the removal of his lifetime ban and the elimination of the $ 2. 5 million fine against him. Thanks for watching, I'm Elizabeth Hagedorn.

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