Los Angeles – The long‑running family dispute over the Los Angeles Lakers has entered the courtroom again. On Monday, Jeanie Buss, the team’s governor since 2013, filed a petition in the Los Angeles Superior Court asking a judge to void a resolution signed by siblings Janie and Joey Buss that would sell the family’s remaining 17.8% ownership stake.
Petition cites 2017 court order and trust provisions
The petition references the 2017 order that barred Jeanie’s brothers James and Johnny from removing her as controlling owner. It alleges that Janie and Joey “brazenly, knowingly and intentionally violated” that order by secretly approving a sale that would drop Jeanie’s ownership below the 15% threshold required by the NBA Constitution to serve as the league’s controlling owner and governor.
Under the NBA Constitution, a person must own at least 15% of a franchise’s equity, either directly or as a trustee, to retain the governing role. Jeanie’s attorneys argue that she still meets that requirement because the family trust – the Jo Ann 2006 ESBT – still holds the requisite share, even if the trust’s trustees change.
Family vote to sell to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner
Earlier this month, ESPN reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the remaining trust shares to a new ownership group led by media executive Bob Iger and venture investor Josh Kushner. The family released a statement saying the decision was made “as a family” and that they love the Lakers and their fans, but felt it was time to “move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
Despite the majority vote, Jeanie Buss maintains that the sale violates the terms of the Jo Ann 2006 ESBT and the 2017 court order. She is asking the court to declare the resolution void, remove Janie and Joey as trustees, and require them to show why they should not be held in contempt for disregarding the earlier injunction.
Implications for Lakers governance
If the court sides with Jeanie, the Buss family’s ownership structure would remain largely unchanged, preserving her role as the NBA’s controlling owner of the Lakers. If the resolution is upheld, the family’s stake could be transferred to the Iger‑Kushner group, potentially ending Jeanie’s governing authority because she would fall below the 15% ownership floor.
The dispute highlights the complexities of family‑run sports franchises, where personal relationships intersect with corporate governance and league rules. It also underscores the importance of clear trust documents and court orders in protecting the intent of founding owners – in this case, the late Jerry Buss, who established the family trust before his death in 2013.
Next steps
The petition asks the judge to set a hearing date to determine whether Janie and Joey Buss complied with the 2017 order and to decide if they should face contempt sanctions. Both sides are expected to present extensive documentation of the trust’s terms and the alleged violations.
As the legal battle unfolds, Lakers fans and the broader NBA community will be watching closely, aware that the outcome could reshape the franchise’s ownership landscape for years to come.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
