Dismissal Possible of Donald Sterling's Federal Antitrust Lawsuit Against NBA

Donald Sterling’s federal antitrust lawsuit against the National Basketball League is moving toward dismissal, according to papers filed today in Los Angeles.

The attorney for the former Clippers owner recently met with an NBA lawyer to discuss a possible dismissal of the action, Sterling attorney Maxwell Blecher wrote in a declaration filed in Los Angeles federal court.

As a result, U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin delayed having attorneys file discovery papers until next month to allow dismissal negotiations to continue. The judge also postponed a scheduling conference until Dec. 4.

Sterling sued the NBA in federal court for more than $1 billion in damages immediately after his wife agreed to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in May. The league countersued, alleging that Sterling’s widely broadcast comments about blacks harmed the league.

Last week, the 80-year-old Sterling dropped a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing his estranged wife, Shelly, the NBA and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver of fraud in the $2 billion sale of the Clippers to Ballmer.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.

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