US: Ousted Clippers owner hires antitrust lawyer

Reports say ousted Clippers basketball team owner Donald Sterling, who was banned for life from the NBA following leaked audio of his racist remarks, will not exit the scene quietly and has hired a famed antitrust lawyer to possibly sue the NBA over a forced sale of the team.

Sterling has reportedly brought on Maxwell Blecher as his representative; Blecher has sent a letter, reports say, to NBA executive vice president and general counsel Rick Buchanan threatening to file a lawsuit against the NBA.

Reports say the letter argues Sterling has not violated any NBA constitutional rules, and that his “due process rights” have been violated.

The NBA voted to ban Sterling for life and require him to pay a fine of $2.5 million after four days of investigations following the leaked audio.

Experts had hypothesized that Sterling could file an antitrust lawsuit against the NBA for a forced sale of the Clippers, possibly undervaluing the team.

Blecher is a founding partner of Blecher Collins Pepperman & Joye.

Full content: Sports Illustrated

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