Dunleavy, Clippers accuse each other of fraud

[NJNJ]

Another ugly Los Angeles Clippers season on the court is carrying over into the courtroom.

 

The team and former coach Mike Dunleavy are accusing each other of fraud in court filings before an arbitration hearing over whether Dunleavy is still owed money by the team.

 

Dunleavy resigned as coach in February after seven years and was fired as general manager a month later. In June, Dunleavy filed an arbitration claim under the provisions of his contract after the team stopped paying him. At the time he was fired as general manager, Dunleavy was in the fourth year of a five-year, $22 million contract.Owner Donald Sterling and the Clippers claim that they were duped into signing the agreement. They say that Dunleavy never intended to fulfill his end of the deal and only wanted increased compensation.

 

"During negotiations of the Employment Agreement, Dunleavy made representations and promises to LAC (the Clippers) that he desired to, and would continue to perform, his duties and obligations as LAC's Head Coach through the 2010-11 NBA Season. LAC is informed and believes, and thereon allege, that at the time he made those representation and promises, Dunleavy had no intention to perform his duties and obligations as LAC's Head Coach through the 2010-11 NBA season, and knew these representations and promises to be false," the Clippers said in their filing.

 

The team contends that Dunleavy's request for an arbitration hearing "exceeds the scope of the narrow arbitration provision between LAC and Dunleavy" in his original contract.

 

CONTINUE READING

[Dash]

Dunleavy should be happy that he was able to hold such a high status in the Clippers organization for so long and that he lasted as long as he did. Mediocre coach and an even worse general manager.