Lawyer: Donald Sterling to sue NBA for $1 billion

 

By Adrian Wojnarowski59 minutes agoYahoo Sports

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Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling (C), his wife Shelly (L) and actor George Segal attend th 

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling plans to file a $1 billion lawsuit against the NBA, his lawyer confirmed to Yahoo Sports on Friday afternoon.

Sterling's decision comes one day after his wifeShelly Sterling reached agreement to sell the franchise for $2 billion to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Donald Sterling is "looking … separately" at possible legal action to stop the team's sale to Ballmer, Donald Sterling's attorney, Max Blecher, told Yahoo Sports.

The purpose of the $1 billion lawsuit against the NBA, Blecher said, is to seek damages for Sterling's lifetime ban and termination of ownership.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling from the league for life, fined him $2.5 million and is seeking termination of Sterling's ownership of the Clippers after TMZ published anaudio recording of Sterling telling his girlfriend he didn't want her bringing African-Americans to Clippers games. The league is proceeding with plans to hold a Tuesday hearing where the other 29 franchise owners will vote on whether to oust Sterling.

Shelly Sterling's attorneys produced a document signed by Donald Sterling on May 22 in which he agreed to allow Shelly to negotiate the sale of the franchise. Working to get a deal done ahead of Tuesday's hearing, Shelly Sterling selected Ballmer's $2 billion bid over reported bids of $1.6 billion by David Geffen and members of the Guggenheim Group, which own the Los Angeles Dodgers; and $1.2 billion by a group that included former NBA player Grant Hill and Los Angeles investors Tony Ressler and Bruce Karsh.

Blecher and Donald Sterling's other attorneys have said he has since changed his mind and did not want to sell the team.

Shelly Sterling and Ballmer signed the agreement of sale late Thursday. The Sterlings co-own the Clippers through a family trust, and Blecher disputed reports Friday that alleged Donald Sterling is "mentally incapacitated" and unable to make decisions on whether to sell the franchise.