Donald Sterling’s mental competence will not be raised in court

The issue of Donald Sterling’s mental competence won’t be raised during next week’s hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court over Shelly Sterling’s attempt to sell the Clippers, attorneys agreed during a hearing Monday.

Instead, Donald Sterling’s attorneys will challenge the propriety of exams that resulted in letters by two doctors in May declaring him incapacitated. Shelly Sterling’s attorneys maintain appropriate procedures were followed in the process that resulted in her husband’s removal as a trustee of the Sterling Family Trust and allowed her to agree to sell the Clippers to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion.

“There are 2 billion reasons why this sale should go through,” said Pierce O’Donnell, the attorney for Shelly Sterling.

Both sides agreed to narrow the hearing’s scope during a lengthy conference Monday ordered by Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas.

Next week’s hearing will also examine whether the sale of the Clippers can proceed after Donald Sterling’s June 9 letter revoking the trust.

“We all agree that he had the requisite capacity to revoke,” said Bobby Samini, one of Sterling’s attorneys.

Levanas also rejected a request by Donald Sterling’s attorneys for more time, meaning the hearing will start July 7.

O’Donnell and Ballmer’s lawyer, Adam Streisand, repeatedly hinted Monday that the former Microsoft chief executive would sue if Donald Sterling upends the sale.

For the sale to be completed, Sterling needs to approve it or the court needs to uphold his wife’s takeover of the team.