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 Sterling, 80, who is fighting to scuttle the deal his wife Shelly
Sterling negotiated with former Microsoft Corp Chief Executive
Officer Steve Ballmer, lashed out at his wife when she approached
him after her testimony.
"Get away from me, you pig!" Sterling growled, startling his wife
who had said she moved to gain control of the family trust that owns
the Clippers out of concern for his mental health.
"Shelly, how could you lie?" the real estate billionaire added
before apologizing to Judge Michael Levanas for disturbing court.
Shelly Sterling, 79, last month asked Los Angeles Superior Court to
confirm her as having sole authority to sell the professional
basketball franchise after her husband vowed to block the NBA-record
sale.
Donald Sterling was banned for life by the NBA in April for private
racist remarks that were taped and published
Shelly Sterling testified at the probate trial that she had her
husband mentally evaluated after he gave a rambling television
interview in May shortly after the ban.
"I couldn't believe it and I started crying," Shelly Sterling told
the court. "I felt so bad. I couldn't believe that was him."
Shelly Sterling had her husband evaluated by two physicians who
determined that he has early-stage Alzheimer's disease and was
unable to conduct his own business affairs, handing her control of
the trust and the Clippers.
"It was just totally out of context and reality," Shelly Sterling
added while being questioned by her lawyer. "I thought for his
health and my own health that he ought to be tested."
Levanas will decide whether Shelly Sterling acted in accordance with
the family trust, and if Donald Sterling's move to revoke the trust
after the deal with Ballmer would invalidate the sale.
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Donald Sterling's attorneys say he was misled by his wife into
submitting to medical examinations.
In his second day of testimony, Sterling, who was often combative
with his own lawyer questioning him, said that his wife moved to
assert authority of the trust because she was afraid that the league
would seize the team.
"My wife is terrified, frightened to death. She can't sleep because
she's afraid the NBA will take everything away," Sterling said. "Her
motivation was that she scared out of her mind. She cried every
night."
The sale to Ballmer has been tentatively approved by the league but
must be voted on by other team owners. The trial, however, will not
conclude before the deal's July 15 deadline.
Ballmer can walk away from the agreement at that date or extend it
for another 30 days.
His attorney, Adam Streisand, said outside court that he was
confident the sale would be completed.
The NBA has said it could seize the Clippers and put the franchise
up for auction if the deal is not approved by Sept. 15.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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Sterling
lashes out at wife in trial over $2 bln Clippers sale
