Donald Sterling files for divorce from wife Shelly Sterling, attorney says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has filed for divorce from Shelly Sterling, his estranged wife of nearly 60 years.

His attorney, Bobby Samini, said Donald Sterling, 81, cited irreconcilable differences in paperwork submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday. That paperwork was initially rejected by the court as incomplete, but it was corrected and resubmitted afterward. It lists their date of separation as Aug. 1, 2012.

"It is truly an unfortunate situation, however, my client could no longer stand by while his rights are trampled," Samini said.

Representatives for Shelly Sterling did not immediately return requests for comment.

The divorce filing comes two weeks before the couple's 60th anniversary and about four months after a judge ordered V. Stiviano, Donald Sterling's alleged mistress, to pay Shelly Sterling $2.6 million. Judge Richard Fruin Jr. said the money was community property from six decades of marriage that was secretly spent buying V. Stiviano a house, a Ferrari and other luxury gifts.

The Sterlings, who made a fortune buying apartment buildings across Los Angeles, presented a mostly unified front at trial, despite their other conflicts.

The divorce filing also comes nearly a year after Stiviano's recording of Donald Sterling making racially offensive remarks bounced him from the NBA and cost him team ownership.

Donald Sterling is suing his wife and the NBA in federal court over the $2 billion sale of the team.

She negotiated the deal with ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer after doctors found Donald Sterling incompetent to handle his business affairs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.