Sterling has dementia, Clippers’ trial hears

LOS A NGELES — Donald Sterling, fighting his wife’s planned $2-billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers, arrived in court Tuesday to give testimony but sat stolidly as a psychiatrist testified that he’s mentally incapable of handling financial affairs.

Sterling was ordered to take the witness stand after failing to appear for the start of the lawsuit trial on Monday. His lawyers are challenging the authority of Shelly Sterling under a family trust to unilaterally cut a deal for the team with former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

To be able to make the deal herself, Shelly Sterling had two doctors examine her husband, They declared him mentally incapacitated and unable to act as an administrator of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers.

The Sterlings sat across from each other in Superior Court as lawyers prepared to question the 80-year-old billionaire in the non-jury trial.

The NBA has moved to oust Sterling from team ownership because of racist remarks he made to a girlfriend, and a neurologist hired by his wife testified Monday that she believed he has Alzheimer’s disease.

A psychiatrist also hired by Shelly Sterling testified Tuesday that he drew the same conclusion after examining Sterling in May.

Dr. James Sparr said Sterling was friendly, relaxed and cooperative until a final question challenged his abilities. A frustrated Sterling then said, “‘I have to go,’ and walked out of the room,” Sparr said.

His report concluded Sterling showed early signs of the debilitating mental condition and “is substantially unable to manage his finances and resist fraud and malfeasance and is no longer competent to act as a trustee of his trust.”

Sterling’s lawyers contend he’s capable of managing financial affairs.

NBA owners are scheduled to vote on the Ballmer deal July 15, the day the offer is set to expire. There is no deal without the judge’s approval. If the sale isn’t completed by Sept. 15, the league has said it could put the team up for auction.