Shelly Sterling, the wife of the former Clippers owner, is owed $2.6 million by V. Stiviano who was showered with gifts by Donald Sterling, a Los Angeles court has ruled on April 14.
Judge Richard Fruin Jr. awarded Shelly Sterling most of the nearly $3 million she had sought.
Shelly Sterling had claimed that money used to buy V. Stiviano a house, luxury cars and stocks was her community property.
V. Stiviano’s lawyer had argued the gifts were made when Donald and Shelly Sterling were separated and that Shelly Sterling couldn’t seek them from a third party.
The ruling comes nearly a year after V. Stiviano’s recording of Donald Sterling making racially offensive remarks bounced him from the NBA and cost him team ownership.
Shelly Sterling’s lawyers used other recordings to show Donald Sterling bought V. Stiviano a house, a Ferrari and other things.
In the recordings on V. Stiviano’s iPhone, she and the 80-year-old billionaire are heard discussing how to shield gifts from his wife.
“The truth is that everything that I have, you’ve given me from your heart without me begging or asking or throwing myself all over you,” V. Stiviano said in snippet played in court.
During the course of their 2 and a half years together, Donald Sterling gave her a Ferrari, a Bentley and a Range Rover, and paid the lion’s share of a $1.8 million duplex.
Donald Sterling testified that he paid for the entire house, though V. Stiviano said she had contributed an unknown amount of money given to her in small bills by family members that she saved in a bedroom drawer.
Shelly Sterling said V. Stiviano hadn’t contributed “50 cents” to the house and, noting that she is part black and Hispanic, said she illegally got her name inserted into escrow documents by befriending Hispanic bank and escrow employees.
Shelly Sterling filed the suit against V. Stiviano about a month before the recording of Donald Sterling telling Stiviano not to associate with black people created an uproar and led the NBA to ban him for life and fine him $2.5 million.
Ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion after a court cleared the way for the sale.
A Los Angeles judge confirmed Shelly Sterling could sell the basketball franchise over the objections of her estranged husband Donald Sterling.
Donald Sterling, the owner since 1981, was banned from the sport for life after he was recorded making racist remarks.
The $2 billion sale price is the highest ever paid for an NBA team.
“Really excited – in a pretty hardcore way to continue the path to making the Clippers a better and better basketball team, and a better and better citizen of the Los Angeles community,” said Steve Ballmer.
Steve Ballmer has purchased Donald Sterling’s LA Clippers for $2 billion after a court cleared the way for the sale
Steve Ballmer moved quickly after the Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas signed the order authorizing the sale even if Donald Sterling’s lawyers filed an appeal.
“We were ready,” lawyer Adam Streisand said.
“Within minutes, the deal was signed, sealed and delivered.”
LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers had threatened to quit if he remained owner.
Point guard and president of the players association Chris Paul suggested he would sit out and try to convince other players to join him if Donald Sterling continued to own the franchise.
The 80-year-old real estate businessman had fought in court over a deal his wife said he had initially praised.
Richard Parsons will continue as interim chief executive, Steve Ballmer added.
The sale ends Donald Sterling’s run as the longest-tenured owner in the NBA.
Donald Sterling bought the Clippers in 1981, moving the team from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1984.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas has ruled that the LA Clippers basketball team can be sold, despite the objections of banned co-owner Donald Sterling.
Donald Sterling, 80, was not in the cramped downtown courtroom for Monday’s closing arguments.
LA Clippers team can be sold, despite the objections of banned co-owner Donald Sterling
At every turn, Judge Michael Levanas found Shelly Sterling’s testimony and witnesses believable – and he publicly questioned the credibility of one of the only two witnesses Donald Sterling called.
Ultimately, the judge ruled that Shelly Sterling acted properly when she removed Donald Sterling from a decision-making position in the family trust that controlled the team.
Shelly Sterling burst into tears after Judge Michael Levanas’ final pronouncement, hugging her lead attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, in the second row of the courtroom as Donald Sterling’s lawyers sat nearby.
“This is going to be a good thing for the city, for the league, for my family, for all of us,” Shelly Sterling said outside the courthouse, facing a phalanx of reporters and cameras.
Donald Sterling – who last week filed a new lawsuit trying to block the sale – is not expected to go away quietly. He is suing the NBA, alleging it violated his constitutional rights by relying on information from an “illegal” recording.
Donald Sterling has said he will never sell LA Clippers basketball team during heated exchanges in court.
Donald Sterling, 80, is contesting in court his wife Shelly’s decision to sell the basketball team franchise to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Steve Ballmer wants the judge to confirm she can do so.
The NBA said it wanted to force Donald Sterling to sell after he was recorded making racist remarks in April.
The court case in Los Angeles deals with allegations that Shelly Sterling used medical tests of his mental capacity to remove him as a trustee and deceive him into selling.
In May, Shelly Sterling told her husband to seek an evaluation by two doctors, who declared him “mentally incapacitated” and unfit to administer his duties as trustee of the Sterling Family Trust.
This in effect handed her control of the Clippers.
Donald Sterling is contesting in court his wife Shelly’s decision to sell the basketball team franchise to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (photo AP)
Shelly Sterling told the court she had sent her husband for medical tests after seeing “frightening changes”.
She was eventually told he had early signs of Alzheimer’s, she said.
There were sharp exchanges in court as Donald Sterling insulted his estranged wife.
“Get away from me, you pig,” he said, adding: “Shelly, how could you lie?”
From the witness box Donald Sterling then shouted: “I will never ever sell this team, and until I die I will be suing the NBA for this terrible violation.”
Donald Sterling argues he could raise more money than Steve Ballmer’s $2 billion offer by selling TV rights and winning an anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA.
If the judge in Los Angeles rules Shelly Sterling acted unlawfully, the deal with Steve Ballmer could be invalidated and the sale of the franchise revoked.
The racism allegations led to the NBA fining Donald Sterling $2.5 million and banning him from basketball for life.
In a 10-minute audio recording published on celebrity website TMZ in April, Donald Sterling was heard telling a woman, subsequently identified as his girlfriend V Stiviano, not to associate in public with black people nor bring them to Clippers games.
The remarks drew widespread condemnation from fans, retired basketball stars and President Barack Obama.
Donald Sterling is suing the NBA, alleging it violated his constitutional rights by relying on information from an “illegal” recording.
According to new reports, Microsoft ex-CEO Steve Ballmer has reached a deal to buy the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for $2 billion, reports say.
Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned from the sport for life after he was recorded making racist remarks.
Microsoft ex-CEO Steve Ballmer has reached a deal to buy the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for $2 billion (photo Getty Images)
The NBA later agreed to begin the process of selling the team.
The bid was reportedly accepted by Donald Sterling’s wife, Shelly.
Steve Ballmer is believed to have outbid two rival groups for the team, one of which was led by media mogul David Geffen and included talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
He retired from Microsoft in February, but he still owns shares in the company.
A forced sale of the LA Clippers would require the approval of three-quarters of the 30 team owners in the NBA.
But Donald Sterling could still oppose the sale in the courts, according to sports lawyers.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has agreed to sell his stake in the basketball team to his estranged wife, Rochelle “Shelly” Sterling.
Rochelle Sterling is moving ahead with selling the team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.
The individual, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said that Donald and Rochelle Sterling made the agreement after weeks of discussion.
Shelly Sterling is working to resolve the dispute amicably and has been in talks with her attorney and NBA lawyers for the last couple weeks.
Donald Sterling has agreed to sell his stake in LA Clippers to his estranged wife, Shelly Sterling
She wants to “have meaningful control” over the transaction.
“She has no plans to sue the NBA,” the individual said.
“She’s trying to make nice.”
The NBA banned Donald Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million because of racist comments. The league has charged him with damaging the league and its teams. It said Donald Sterling has engaged in other conduct that has impaired its relationship with fans and merchandising partners.
Team owners are moving forward with a vote on whether to terminate his ownership.
Donald Sterling has until next Tuesday to respond.
He can appear at a June 3 hearing in New York in front of the other owners. It will take three-quarters of them to terminate Donald Sterling’s ownership, and the league says also that of Shelly Sterling.
Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, the board chairman, will preside over the hearing. If three-fourths of the other 29 owners vote to sustain the charge, Donald Sterling will be forced to sell the team he has owned since 1981. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said he is confident he has the 23 votes that are necessary.
If Donald Sterling did not respond to the charge within five business days, or does not appear at the hearing, it would be deemed an admission of the “total validity of the charges as presented,” according to the NBA constitution.
Donald Sterling’s attorney had asked for a three-month delay, which the league rejected.
Donald Sterling has said he is not a racist and will not sell the Los Angeles Clippers.
In a recording obtained by RadarOnline, a man who is reportedly Donald Sterling is heard saying he does not believe he can be forced to sell.
Donald Sterling was banned from the NBA for life after he was recorded making racist remarks.
The NBA advisory panel has agreed to begin the process of selling the team.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said a forced sale would require 75% of NBA owners, and believes he has the votes.
However, Donald Sterling, 81, could oppose the sale in the courts, according to sports lawyers.
Donald Sterling has said he is not a racist and will not sell the Los Angeles Clippers (photo Forbes)
In the recording of what appears to be a phone conversation between Donald Sterling and another man, the Clippers owner says: “You think I’m a racist? You think I have anything in the world but love for everybody? … You know I’m not a racist!”
“How can you be in this business and be a racist?” Donald Sterling asked.
“Do you think I tell the coach to get white players or to get the best player he can get?”
He also told the other man: “You can’t force somebody to sell property in America. I’m a lawyer. That’s my opinion.”
Donald Sterling explains his background growing up in East Los Angeles would make him accepting of others.
“I was the president of the high school there. I mean, and I’m a Jew! And 50% of the people there were black and 40% were Hispanic.
“So I mean, people must have a good feeling for me.”
RadarOnline does not identify the other man or how they received the recording.
The most recent recording emerged as Donald Sterling’s estranged wife, Rochelle, told US media she will fight for a controlling stake of the team.
Rochelle “Shelly” Sterling is a co-owner of the Clippers through a family trust.
Her lawyer, Pierce O’Donnell, said in a statement she “will not agree to a forced or involuntary seizure of her interest”.
Pierce O’Donnell added Shelly Sterling has been separated from her husband for the last year and is considering divorce. Rochelle Sterling also said through her lawyer she has no interest in managing the Clippers.
“The Sterlings may share the same last name, but she does not share his values on race,” Pierce O’Donnell said.
“The sins of the husband cannot be imputed to the wife or children.”
[youtube _bf4Hv_cJIE 650]
This website has updated its privacy policy in compliance with EU GDPR 2016/679. Please read this to review the updates about which personal data we collect on our site. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our updated policy. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
