Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- With neither Donald nor Shelly Sterling in the room , the trial to see who controls the Los Angeles Clippers began in a California probate court Monday afternoon . The day started with a federal judge sending the case back to the state court , denying the claim by Donald Sterling 's attorneys that his privacy rights had been violated with the release of his medical records . With a July 15 deadline looming for the closing on Shelly Sterling 's sale of the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer , the probate trial began with some drama . When her lead attorney Pierce O'Donnell was told he could call his first witness , he summoned Donald Sterling . Sterling was not there and the trial was briefly halted . One of Donald Sterling 's attorneys , Gary Ruttenberg , told reporters the move was a ploy meant to bring attention to his absence . After the delay , Ruttenberg requested the chance to make an opening statement , during which he declared : `` The NBA wants to get rid of my client . '' But Bert Fields , a lawyer for Shelly Sterling , said they were very anxious to hear from her husband . `` We want to bring him to court and let him , finally , have a little cross-examination , '' Fields said . `` He 's accusing his wife of fraud . Nonsense . '' Sterling will appear in court Tuesday . Shelly Sterling came to the court Monday morning as the case was being ruled on by the federal judge but she left before the trial began in the state court . With Donald Sterling absent , O'Donnell called Dr. Meril S. Platzer , a neurologist who examined Donald Sterling . The judge overruled his lawyer 's objection to the doctor testifying . Shelly Sterling is trying to sell the NBA team to Ballmer for $ 2 billion . Her husband bought the team , which he says he wants to keep , for about $ 12 million in 1981 . The couple owns the Clippers through a trust , with each spouse being an equal trustee . Shelly Sterling had two doctors declare her husband mentally incapacitated -- and a third doctor agreed with their assessment -- and invoked a provision in the trust that allowed her to be sole trustee . Donald Sterling refused to sign the binding term sheet , so his wife took the matter to probate court . Donald Sterling says his wife did n't have authority to negotiate a deal with Ballmer . Donald Sterling 's lawyers have said their client was tricked into medical examinations . They also dispute their client is mentally deficient . Late last month , another doctor found Donald Sterling to be mentally fit , a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN . Bobby Samini , a lawyer for Donald Sterling , said he looked forward to his client showing his mental acuity on the witness stand . `` I have absolute confidence that Donald 's testimony is going to be very , very telling for everybody who observes it , '' he told reporters . Sterling , 80 , has been embroiled in controversy since a recording of a conversation with his friend V. Stiviano surfaced . The recording included a series of racist comments . Sterling 's comments , first posted on TMZ , sparked outrage among NBA players , executives and fans . The NBA commissioner fined Sterling $ 2.5 million and banned him for life from the NBA . Sterling issued a statement last month in which he apologized for the remarks and said his apology was sincere . The contract between Shelly Sterling and Ballmer has a July 15 deadline to close the deal , with a 30-day extension , if needed . The NBA has a meeting the same day at which owners could approve the sale . If the case drags on , the Sterlings face a September 15 deadline from the NBA to sell team . Before the proposed sale was announced , the league had begun proceedings to terminate the Sterlings ' ownership rights . Sterlings face probate court trial on NBA 's Clippers -- or do they ? CNN 's Linda Hall contributed to this report .
Lawyer says other side calling Donald Sterling to testify was ploy to spotlight his absence . The Clippers owner is accused of using a racial slur against girlfriend V. Stiviano in an audio recording released by TMZ on Wednesday. Shelly Sterling wants judge to uphold her proposed sale of NBA 's Los Angeles Clippers . The Sterlings have owned the team equally through a trust .