Posted on 06/24/2014 4:23:19 AM PDT by GIdget2004
With a $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers hanging in the balance, a judge suggested Monday that the terms of a family trust are clear enough to remove Donald Sterling as a trustee and allow his estranged wife to sell the team without his consent.
At one point, Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas said the Sterlings' trust agreement is so unambiguous that "I could decide this case in five minutes."
At the center of the volatile court battle are reports from three doctors who examined the 80-year-old Sterling and found he shows symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease and dementia. His lawyers argued he should be able to call his own experts at a trial set for July 7.
The judge said the trust agreement provides that if two doctors examined Sterling and found he lacked the capacity to manage his own affairs, he would be removed as a trustee. There is no provision to contest the decision, he said.
"I don't know why you want the court involved at all," he told lawyers.
But by the end of a hearing in probate court, Levanas agreed to allow lawyers to submit written arguments and scheduled a hearing for June 30 ahead of the trial.
Sterling's wife, Shelly, is trying to sell the team to former Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer, whose offer will expire on Sept. 15. NBA owners are to meet July 15 to vote on the deal.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcsports.com ...
Sterling earned his money as a sleazy lawyer. I'm not a big fan of the guy. That said, the above finding would mean that the NBA is going after a guy with Alzheimer's specifically because he made inappropriate statements, which is exactly what people with Alzheimer's are known for.
So when will AARP come to Sterling's defense, after all, he's just a sick old man, right?
If Sterling is no longer in control of the family trust, can the family trust keep the team?
Pure Bovine Excrement as an excuse to railroad him.
Symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease = occasional forgetfulness and making objectional statements.
Show me anyone who occasional doesn't exhibit such "symptoms" - especially someone his age.
He may be an old and crotchety sleazebag but that isn't justification to railroad him.
But when there are $2 billion dollars up for grabs the rules go out the window.
If they have to say he has Alzheimer’s to get rid of him, doesn't the Alzheimer’s excuse him for the remark?
Is the NBA conducting a war against the mentally ill?
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