A judge who was about to accept a defamation suit by Donald Sterling’s mistress, on Friday decided to think it over after hearing from Shelley Sterling’s attorney, AP reported.
The attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, said V. Stiviano, the mistress, was acting out of spite and revenge against Donald Sterling’s estranged wife.
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Donald Sterling has been forced by the NBA to dump his Los Angeles Clippers, based on an audio tape with his racist ramblings, publicized by the mistress.
Stiviano’s lawyer claims Shelley Sterling called his client a thief on national TV. O’Donnell said there was no such statement on record.
“This is a phantom statement, ” O’Donnell said. “No one in this courtroom knows to whom or when it was said.”
Superior Court Judge Richard Fruin said he hadn’t hear the alleged statement either, if it was broadcast, and agreed to consider dismissing the claim, saying: “I don’t really know what Mrs. Sterling may or may not have said. You haven’t told me except for these very general statements that are vague. I didn’t hear it and you don’t quote it.”
judge Fruin has set a March 9 date for Shelley Sterling’s lawsuit seeking return of gifts from her husband to his mistress, including a $1.8 million duplex, a Ferrari, two Bentleys and a Range Rover worth more than $500, 000.
