Jeanie Buss has initiated legal proceedings against her siblings in a bid to prevent them from selling the family’s remaining stake in the Los Angeles Lakers. In a petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Buss described her siblings as “devious” and accused them of attempting to undermine her position as the franchise’s governor.

Jeanie, who was appointed by her late father, Jerry Buss, to lead the Lakers, is seeking a court order to block her five siblings from offloading their shares. The legal action follows an announcement from her siblings regarding a potential sale of their stake to a group led by Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, which Jeanie claims she was not consulted about.

Allegations of Deception

In her filing, Jeanie highlighted that her siblings had allegedly brokered the deal without her knowledge, stating that they published a misleading statement claiming a family consensus to sell the shares. “The devious behavior of the co-trustees, Janie and Joey, as well as James, Johnny, and Jesse, is highlighted by the fact that they never revealed their scheme to Jeanie,” the document asserts. Jeanie contends that she was blindsided by this announcement, which was made shortly after media reports surfaced about a proposed sale of shares by majority owner Walter.

Jeanie’s legal team has also called for her siblings to be held in contempt and liable for damages. She specifically demanded the removal of Janie and Joey as co-trustees of the trust that holds the family’s stake in the Lakers, accusing them of violating a 2017 court order and the trust’s provisions.

Value of the Lakers at Stake

Jeanie’s filing argues that selling the Lakers shares does not make financial sense, given the franchise’s increasing value. “Indeed, other owners of stakes in the Lakers have expressed their support for Jeanie remaining Controlling Owner,” the document states, emphasizing that they intend to hold onto their stakes rather than sell.

A court hearing is scheduled for November 5, where these issues will be addressed. Jeanie’s attorney, Adam F. Streisand, expressed regret over the necessity of this legal action, stating, “As our filing makes abundantly clear, however, her siblings don’t have the right to disregard both the language of the Buss family trust and the court’s clear mandate on how it is to be governed.”

Jeanie’s legal move follows her public denouncement of her siblings’ announcement regarding the sale of their shares, which she claims was falsely reported by ESPN. Her attorney has demanded that her siblings publicly clarify that Jeanie remains the Controlling Owner of the Lakers and that no sale can proceed without her approval.

Despite Jeanie’s objections, her siblings have reiterated their decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, stating they are united in this choice and intend to proceed through the appropriate channels.

For more details on this developing story, visit TheWrap.