Jeanie Buss has officially filed a petition to block her family’s sale of the Lakers, and let me tell you, this isn’t some quiet family disagreement. This move became public on Tuesday, marking the second time Buss has hauled her siblings into court over control of the purple and gold.
“Devious Behavior” And A Second Court Battle
This ain’t just a rerun, it’s a full-blown sequel to family drama, and the stakes are the Los Angeles Lakers. The petition, a staggering 97 pages long, doesn’t pull any punches. Jeanie straight-up called her siblings’ actions “devious behavior.” She’s claiming she “never agreed to any sale, was never consulted and was never even informed,” according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the LA Times. The petition itself reads, “Jeanie thought she had put all of her siblings’ scheming and manipulations behind her in 2017. Sadly, that was not the case, and Jeanie must respectfully request relief from this Court a second time.” This isn’t just about business, this is personal, and it’s all about who runs one of the most iconic franchises in sports.
What Jeanie Wants: Voided Votes And Accountability
So, what exactly is Jeanie trying to achieve with this legal bomb? Her petition lays out five clear points. She wants the court to declare her siblings’ votes to sell the team absolutely void. She’s also pushing to remove Janie and Joey as co-trustees, alleging “breach of fiduciary duty,” and wants both of them held in contempt of court. It doesn’t stop there. Jim, Johnny, and Jesse are also targeted, with Jeanie hoping to hold them in contempt and liable for “aiding and abetting.” Her entire stance hinges on a 2017 ruling that backed her up when her family tried what was basically a coup to oust her after she fired Jim Buss from the front office.
Is The Franchise Undervalued? Minority Owners Say Yes
Beyond the family drama, Jeanie also believes the franchise is being seriously undervalued with this proposed sale, arguing that the price will only keep climbing. And she’s not alone. She’s got some serious backup in this fight. The petition states that two other minority owners, Patrick Soon-Shiong and Ed Roski Jr., are on her side. Soon-Shiong, who owns the L.A. Times and plans to keep his 4% stake, along with Roski Jr., believe Jeanie is “the right person to continue as controlling owner and NBA governor of the Lakers to help preserve and continue to grow the value of the Lakers stock investments.” That’s a huge statement of confidence in her leadership.
This is far from over, folks. The worst news in all this? The court date is set for November 5. That means we’re looking at a long, drawn-out battle before any resolution, unless we get some wild, unlikely out-of-court settlement. So, prepare for this saga to drag on. The future of the Lakers, and who truly controls it, is now in the hands of the courts, and we’re all just watching to see how this dramatic family power struggle plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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