LOS ANGELES (AP)

A judge rejected an urgent request by Shelly Sterling's attorney yesterday that her husband Donald Sterling and his lawyers be ordered to stop harassing her legal team and doctors in their dispute over the planned sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.

mentally incapacitated

A petition filed by Shelly Sterling's attorneys quoted allegedly threatening remarks made by Donald Sterling in phone calls and a letter sent by his lawyer to two doctors who declared him mentally incapacitated.

Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas said the matter may involve "high emotions and some litigation posturing" and urged both parties to tone down their communications.

"The court does not feel that the statements set forth in the ... petition rise to the level of great and irreparable injury to a party as called for in the code of civil procedure," Levanas said in a written decision.

Outside court Donald Sterling's attorney Bobby Samini said, "Clearly from the court's ruling it's apparent Mr Sterling is not a danger to anybody."