Jeanie Buss goes to court to stop siblings from selling Lakers stake

The Buss family fight over the Lakers has officially reached the see you in court stage.

Jeanie Buss filed a petition Wednesday asking a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to prevent her five siblings from selling the family’s remaining 17.8 percent stake in the franchise, according to Sam Amick and Melody Gutierrez of The Athletic.

Let’s just say Jeanie isn’t exactly mincing words, either. She accuses her siblings of taking part in a secret effort to remove her as Lakers governor, calling their actions “devious” and asking that they be held in contempt of court and liable for damages.

“Jeanie never agreed to any sale, was never consulted, and was never even informed,” her petition states.

So yeah. Thanksgiving should be fun.

At the center of the dispute is a family trust and a 2017 court order stemming from an earlier Buss family battle. Jeanie argues that the order requires the trustees to take reasonable steps to keep her in place as controlling owner, or governor. Of course, her siblings apparently see things differently.

Jeanie is also seeking to have Joey and Janie Buss removed as co-trustees, alleging breach of fiduciary duty. Her attorneys contend that a resolution authorizing the sale is invalid and that Jim, Johnny and Jesse Buss aided Joey and Janie in violating both the trust and the 2017 order.

There’s plenty at stake beyond family harmony. Mark Walter purchased the Lakers at a $10 billion valuation last summer before reaching an agreement this month to sell them to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation.

Jeanie’s attorneys argue that unloading the family’s remaining stake now would be a lousy financial move given the franchise’s rapidly increasing value.

The petition even says other Lakers minority owners support Jeanie remaining governor and intend to hold their shares.

A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5. Until then, Jeanie remains intent on keeping control of the Lakers. Her siblings appear equally intent on cashing out.