Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling responded forcefully to the NBA's charges to terminate his ownership Tuesday evening, calling the NBA's penalties "draconian" and the proceedings a "sham."
In the documents sent to the NBA offices by Sterling's attorney, Maxwell Blecher, Sterling denies every allegation and charge made by the NBA and asks that the proceedings to terminate him at a hearing of the Board of Governors on June 3 be dismissed.
Sterling argues that the recordings made by his former assistant V. Stiviano were made without his knowledge, making them inadmissible under any circumstances under California law, calling it a "clear and blatant violation of Mr. Sterling's California constitutional rights."
Sterling also threatens future legal action against the NBA under state or federal law, questions his ability to get a fair hearing from the board of governors -- many of whom issued statements condemning his words and praising the actions of NBA commissioner Adam Silver -- and states that he never intended to harm the NBA with his comments.
"This was an argument by a jealous man and the woman he loved that never should have left the privacy of the living room," the response reads. "And while Mr. Sterling said some terrible words in the passion of the argument -- as he had already publicly admitted and for which he has apologized -- he has not taken a 'position' or an 'action.' "
Pierce O'Donnell, the attorney for Shelly Sterling, issued a statement confirming that "Donald Sterling has authorized Shelly Sterling in writing to negotiate the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers, including his 50 percent ownership of the team" and that his client "and the NBA are working cooperatively on the transaction."
On Tuesday night, the NBA released a statement in response to the Sterlings say the scheduled June 3 hearing will go on as planned.
"This evening, the NBA received separate responses from lawyers representing Donald and Shelly Sterling to the charge to terminate their ownership interests in the Los Angeles Clippers," the NBA said in the statement. "These materials, together with the charge, will be distributed to the NBA Board of Governors, who will meet on June 3 at 1 p.m. in New York City to hear and vote upon this matter. Should the Board vote to sustain the charge, the Sterlings' interests in the Clippers will be terminated and the team will be sold."