–
–
Will you offer us a hand? Every gift, regardless of size, fuels our future.
Your critical contribution enables us to maintain our independence from shareholders or wealthy owners, allowing us to keep up reporting without bias. It means we can continue to make Jewish Business News available to everyone.
You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at [email protected].
Thank you.
Donald Sterling seemed to have a brief shining moment in which he thought he was able to bring the whole controversy over the Clippers sale back to the very beginning. However, Judge Michael Levanas, who last month invoked an unusual order that allowed him to give permission to Donald’s estranged wife Shelly Sterling to sell the Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, rejected Sterling’s appeal. “Presently, there is nothing for this court to review, ” the order said.
Judge Levanas signed the final decision in the probate case Thursday, although Donald Sterling’s lawyers made last-ditch efforts on Friday to argue Sterling’s case. His attorney said, “Once that sale goes through, Donald would have lost a unique, irretrievable asset coveted by high net worth individuals around the world, one of 30 NBA franchises in the country, and one that under Donald’s 30-year ownership has recently become one of the most successful.”
Attorneys have until Wednesday to file their objections, but Judge Levanas said in his final statement, “The petition is denied without prejudice to re-filing at the appropriate time.”
The downfall of Donald Sterling began in the spring when his girlfriend recorded racist statements the Clippers owner made, and the NBA asked him to resign. Following that, his estranged wife, Shelly Sterling, tried to get the authority to sell the Clippers to Steve Ballmer after the Sterling’s estate had been dissolved. The rejection of Donald Sterling’s appeal could signal an end to the drama that has unfolded in the past few months over the future of the Clippers.
