Donald Sterling sued by alleged ex-lover and employee

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014
VIDEO: Sterling's alleged ex-lover files lawsuit
Donald Sterling's alleged ex-lover and former employee Maiko Maya King says she was fired for refusing to have sex with him.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The legal woes continue for banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday and obtained by Eyewitness News, Sterling's former employee and lover Maiko Maya King alleges she was fired for refusing to have sex with Sterling.

King, who is being represented by Attorney Gloria Allred, says that she met Sterling in 2005 when she was married with two children, and was encouraged to leave her husband.

After leaving her husband, the plaintiff says Sterling supported her financially while she worked for his foundation. That's until King and Sterling began arguing about his racist views and sexually offensive comments, according to the suit.

King says Sterling allegedly asked her about her former African-American husband, saying "How could you be married to a black man?" The suit alleged Sterling also referred to King's children, asking her "Why would you bring black people into the world?"

When the two fought, Sterling also allegedly told her to "move back to the ghetto with a black man."

In the suit, King says "her resistance to Sterling's racist views on African Americans contributed to the breakup of their personal relationship in 2011."

The two allegedly rekindled their business relationship in December 2013 after Sterling asked King to be his personal assistant and caretaker. He allegedly told King that he needed a trustworthy caretaker in his life, "and that she was the only one that could do this for him."

In agreement, he would pay her $10,000 a month. If she proved her loyalty, he would throw in a $100,000 bonus and provide her with a house and an automobile, according to the suit.

King says she accepted the job offer, despite her former personal relationship with Sterling, because Sterling, himself, introduced her to his girlfriend V. Stiviano. According to the suit, King presumed Sterling would not pursue another sexual relationship since he had a girlfriend.

While under employment, King allegedly took Sterling to doctor appointments, encouraged him to lose weight, stop drinking, and accompanied him to business meetings.

Business matters, however, took a turn when Sterling allegedly began asking King to engage in a variety of sexual acts which, the suit says, King found degrading. She claims she was ultimately fired on May 7 for refusing to have sex with Sterling.

The lawsuit does not specify the exact amount of damages King is asking for.

Sterling's attorney, Bobby Samini, released a statement, saying, "The claim by Ms. King is baseless and ridiculous. She was never employed by Donald Sterling. Her claim was obviously prompted by opportunistic motives."

ESPN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.