NBA countersues Donald Sterling, citing 'devastating and incalculable harm' caused

As was largely expected when Donald Sterling sued the NBA in June under anti-trust law in U.S. District Court, the NBA has filed a countersuit against the former Los Angeles Clippers owner.

This comes via a report from the Los Angeles Times:

The NBA filed a counterclaim against Donald Sterling and the Sterling Family Trust in federal court Monday, saying the Clippers owner caused “devastating and incalculable harm” to the league.

Filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in response to Sterling’s June antitrust lawsuit against the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver, the counterclaim seeks to recover damages related to the owner’s recorded comments denigrating blacks.

According to the league's constitution, Donald Sterling "must indemnify the NBA against losses and litigation," something Shelly Sterling did with respect to Donald Sterling's lifetime ban from the league. In the countersuit, the NBA is asking for the indemnification to be enforced.

This is another step in what could be a complicated and lengthy legal battle following the court ruling that Shelly Sterling was legally allowed to sell the team to Steve Ballmer, a sale that closed on Tuesday.