If you thought that Donald Sterling was just going to go quietly into oblivion and sell his franchise that he has owned for decades, you are quite the optimist and not familiar with litigation in the United States. Sports Illustrated is reporting that Sterling has hired prominent antitrust litigator Maxwell Blecher to battle the NBA and their demand he sell the team. Blecher is quite qualified to take on the NBA since he was the attorney for the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and he won his case against the all-mighty NFL. He has apparently already sent a letter to NBA executive vice president and general counsel Rick Buchanan threatening to sue the NBA. The letter claims that Sterling has done nothing wrong and that “no punishment is warranted” for Sterling’s actions. Sterling is even fighting the $2.5 million fine, which is already past due, by saying “We reject your demand for payment.” Sources say that the letter ends by saying this controversy “will be adjudicated.” This is definitely laying the groundwork for Sterling to fire back at the NBA with a lawsuit of his own. The basis of Sterling’s defense is that Blecher claims that his client has not violated any article of the NBA constitution. Blecher will also argue that Sterling’s “due process rights” have been violated by the NBA, which a decision was made in mere four-day investigation, without any formal proceedings. Strap in folks because this is not going to go away quickly or quietly.
REPORT: Donald Sterling Claims He Has Done Nothing Wrong, Refuses NBA Sanctions, And Threatens To Sue
