Shelly Sterling Wins Key Ruling in Sterling v. Stiviano Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Greenberg Glusker today announced that they obtained an important court victory in the Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of client Shelly Sterling in her lawsuit against V. Stiviano.

In a key ruling in the case of Rochelle H. Sterling v. V. Stiviano, Judge Richard Fruin, Jr., dismissed a cross-complaint that had been filed by Stiviano in which she alleged that Mrs. Sterling was guilty of defamation for comments made in the press by Mrs. Sterling. Judge Fruin based his decision on the arguments from the Greenberg Glusker trial team that the cause of action was not valid under the Anti-SLAPP statute in California, which protects free speech in the state.

“Shelly is pleased that this frivolous defamation complaint has been dismissed with prejudice,” said Pierce O'Donnell, a nationally renowned attorney at Greenberg Glusker and lead counsel to Shelly Sterling. “Ms. Stiviano's cross-complaint was filed out of sheer desperation because she has no defense to Shelly's lawsuit regarding the $2 million of community property that Donald Sterling gave Ms. Stiviano. This property must be forfeited because Donald had no right to give away community property and we look forward to our trial before a Los Angeles jury where we're confident that Shelly will prevail.”

The trial in Sterling v. Stiviano is scheduled to begin on March 9, 2015, in Los Angeles Superior Court. Shelly Sterling is seeking recovery of approximately $2 million worth of property – cars, a house and cash – that Donald Sterling gave to V. Stiviano.

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