Even if Donald Sterling continues to fight, included in the judge's ruling is a key provision in California trust law that allows Shelly Sterling to proceed with the sale of the team "as if no appeal were pending," according to provision 1310(b).
That basically seals the deal. I am not a legal eagle, but I imagine this all but settles it. Donald Sterling will have to settle for like a billion dollars
Also, you should have written "Donald Sterling loses preliminary hearing", since he is in court against his wife who is also a Sterling.
/and my 900th post! I'll get that star any day now
Likely does. Team Donald has until August 15th to find a judge to enjoin that provision allowing the sale to occur during appeal. (And if successful, hope that Team Shelly doesn't find a higher judge overruling Team Donald's judge.) Not a California lawyer (but I hear PhoSita is becoming one!), so I can't say if that will occur. I'd bet it won't. It's a tough call for a higher judge -- on the one hand, if Donald appealed and won, you can't undo the sale. On the other, if Donald appealed and lost, you can't undo the forgone sale. My guess is that a higher judge would defer to the trial judge on this one, unless s/he feels that it is very likely Donald will succeed on appeal, since one side stands to lose a lot with an injunction, while the other side stands to lose if there isn't.
The saga isn't over, as Donald will continue to file lawsuits, but it seems pretty likely that Ballmer will control the Clippers effective August 15th.