Probate trial set for Donald Sterling

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Attorneys for Donald and Shelly Sterling appeared in court Wednesday as the fight to sell the Los Angeles Clippers enters a new legal battle.

Shelly Sterling was hoping to have the court validate her authority to sell the team despite her husband's objections. But the judge denied the motion and set a trial date in Los Angeles probate court to determine whether Donald Sterling was properly removed as an administrator for the family trust that owns the Clippers. The trial will begin July 7 and last four days.

Shelly took over as the sole trustee of the family trust on May 29 after she had two doctors rule that her husband was "lacking mental capacity." She went forward with negotiations to sell the Clippers for a record $2 billion to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Attorneys for both Ballmer and the NBA wanted a probate judge to sign off on the method that Shelly used to take control of the family trust.

But Donald's attorney argued that there are inconsistencies with the two doctors cited in Shelly's legal filings. He said Donald is prepared to have his own doctors dispute their findings.

As for the letter Donald gave to Shelly authorizing her to sell the team, his attorney says that letter merely authorized that she could enter into negotiations, not sell the team.

The deadline for the sale of the team is July 15.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.