Buss Seeks Court Order to Halt Siblings' Lakers Share Sale
Jeanie Buss has filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to block her five siblings from selling the family's remaining 17.8 percent stake in the Lakers, accusing them of secretly orchestrating a deal to remove her as governor. The filing calls their behavior 'devious' and requests contempt and damages, while also seeking removal of Joey and Janie Buss as co-trustees for breach of fiduciary duty. The petition argues the siblings' resolution violates the family trust and a 2017 court order that ensures Jeanie's control.
The petition, filed Wednesday, marks the latest escalation in a family dispute that began with Jerry Buss’s 2013 death and his choice of Jeanie as successor. A 2017 court order, born from an earlier power struggle with brothers Jim and Johnny, explicitly required trustees to protect Jeanie’s controlling role. The current filing alleges Joey and Janie, as co-trustees, violated that order by signing a resolution to sell the 17.8% stake, which would drop Jeanie below the NBA’s 15% governor threshold. Jeanie’s attorneys also argue the sale is financially shortsighted, noting the franchise’s rising value under new ownership.
The 97-page filing includes five causes of action, ranging from voiding the resolution to seeking contempt and damages. Jeanie claims she was never consulted or informed, and that her siblings’ public declaration to “move forward” shows defiance. She also asks the court to remove Joey and Janie for breach of fiduciary duty, alleging they acted with “deliberate exclusion” and cannot be impartial. The case now rests on whether the 2017 order’s language—requiring “all actions reasonably available” to ensure Jeanie’s governorship—trumps the trustees’ sale authority.
This legal fight could reshape NBA governance norms, as it tests whether family trust agreements can override league ownership rules. If Jeanie loses, it may embolden minority owners elsewhere to challenge controlling governors, potentially destabilizing franchise leadership. Conversely, a ruling for Jeanie could reinforce the power of court-approved succession plans, offering stability for teams with complex family structures. The outcome may also affect fan trust in the Lakers’ long-term direction, though the team’s on-court performance likely remains the primary driver of public interest.