https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34064763/dean-spanos-sued-sister-accused-misogynistic-behavior-legal-battle-continues-control-los-angeles-chargers

Dean Spanos sued by sister, accused of 'misogynistic' behavior as legal battle continues over control of Los Angeles Chargers
11:04 AM PT
Adam Schefter and Kimberley Martin

Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos has been accused of "misogynistic" behavior, "self-dealing" and repeated "breaches of fiduciary duty" by his sister in a lawsuit that escalates the siblings' ongoing legal battle over control of the team.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in San Joaquin County Superior Court by attorneys representing Dea Spanos Berberian, who is seeking sole control of a family trust that constitutes more than one-third of the Chargers' ownership.. The suit also asks the court to suspend and remove Spanos as a co-trustee and seeks unspecified financial damages awarded to Berberian.

Spanos, Berberian and their siblings Michael Spanos and Alexandra Spanos Ruhl each own 15% of the Chargers franchise, with 36% managed by the family trust and the remaining 4% owned by non-family members.

Spanos and Berberian were left as co-trustees of the trust after the deaths of Alex and Faye Spanos in 2018.

Berberian accuses brothers Dean and Michael of repeatedly acting "out of their deeply-held misogynistic attitudes and sense of entitlement as the men in the family ... and to rationalize their pitiable behavior which she believes is intended to teach her that a woman has no rights, no matter what any trust instrument might say." The lawsuit also states that Dean and Michael "believe to their cores that, regardless of what their parents intended and their wills specified, men are in charge and women should shut up."

Berberian contends that the Spanos family trust and subtrusts are all but insolvent, that Spanos' decision to move the Chargers to Los Angeles has proved financially ruinous and that the family has no option but to sell the team to satisfy the trust's debt obligations, which she says are currently in excess of $358 million.

The lawsuit also lists multiple allegations of "breaches of fiduciary duty" by Dean Spanos, who is accused of diverting $105 million from the trust to various debts. Spanos also allegedly manipulated the trust to borrow over $60 million "for the wasteful purchase of an airplane for Dean's and Michael's use that has no legitimate business justification."

Berberian also accuses her brothers of conspiring with Steven Cohen, the executive vice president and COO of The Spanos Corporation, to undermine Berberian by "deliberately" damaging her relationship with the pastor of her Greek Orthodox church, Father Alex Karloutsos.

Alex Spanos bought the San Diego Chargers in 1984, and Dean Spanos took over managing the franchise in 1994. The legal conflict came into public view in April 2021, when Berberian petitioned the Los Angeles County Superior Court to put the trust up for sale.

Berberian is being represented by Adam Streisand, who also represented Jeanie Buss when she wrested control of the Los Angeles Lakers from her brothers and Steve Ballmer in the trial to force Donald Sterling to sell the LA Clippers.

Neither Berberian nor Streisand responded to ESPN's requests for comment.

A lawyer familiar with the matter told ESPN that Berberian's motive for filing the suit is to embarrass Spanos publicly. The lawyer went on to say that Berberian's three siblings, Dean, Michael and Alexis, have stood firmly in opposing her in the past and that "today's lawsuit will receive the same reaction."

The NFL has declined comment on the matter.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

phlash74 wrote:
> https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34064763/dean-spanos-sued-sister-accused-misogynistic-behavior-legal-battle-continues-control-los-angeles-chargers
>
> Dean Spanos sued by sister, accused of 'misogynistic' behavior as legal battle continues over control of Los Angeles Chargers
> 11:04 AM PT
> Adam Schefter and Kimberley Martin
>
> Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos has been accused of "misogynistic" behavior, "self-dealing" and repeated "breaches of fiduciary duty" by his sister in a lawsuit that escalates the siblings' ongoing legal battle over control of the team.
>
> The lawsuit was filed Thursday in San Joaquin County Superior Court by attorneys representing Dea Spanos Berberian, who is seeking sole control of a family trust that constitutes more than one-third of the Chargers' ownership. The suit also asks the court to suspend and remove Spanos as a co-trustee and seeks unspecified financial damages awarded to Berberian.
>
> Spanos, Berberian and their siblings Michael Spanos and Alexandra Spanos Ruhl each own 15% of the Chargers franchise, with 36% managed by the family trust and the remaining 4% owned by non-family members.
>
> Spanos and Berberian were left as co-trustees of the trust after the deaths of Alex and Faye Spanos in 2018.
>
> Berberian accuses brothers Dean and Michael of repeatedly acting "out of their deeply-held misogynistic attitudes and sense of entitlement as the men in the family ... and to rationalize their pitiable behavior which she believes is intended to teach her that a woman has no rights, no matter what any trust instrument might say." The lawsuit also states that Dean and Michael "believe to their cores that, regardless of what their parents intended and their wills specified, men are in charge and women should shut up."
>
> Berberian contends that the Spanos family trust and subtrusts are all but insolvent, that Spanos' decision to move the Chargers to Los Angeles has proved financially ruinous and that the family has no option but to sell the team to satisfy the trust's debt obligations, which she says are currently in excess of $358 million.
>
> The lawsuit also lists multiple allegations of "breaches of fiduciary duty" by Dean Spanos, who is accused of diverting $105 million from the trust to various debts. Spanos also allegedly manipulated the trust to borrow over $60 million "for the wasteful purchase of an airplane for Dean's and Michael's use that has no legitimate business justification."
>
> Berberian also accuses her brothers of conspiring with Steven Cohen, the executive vice president and COO of The Spanos Corporation, to undermine Berberian by "deliberately" damaging her relationship with the pastor of her Greek Orthodox church, Father Alex Karloutsos.
>
> Alex Spanos bought the San Diego Chargers in 1984, and Dean Spanos took over managing the franchise in 1994. The legal conflict came into public view in April 2021, when Berberian petitioned the Los Angeles County Superior Court to put the trust up for sale.
>
> Berberian is being represented by Adam Streisand, who also represented Jeanie Buss when she wrested control of the Los Angeles Lakers from her brothers and Steve Ballmer in the trial to force Donald Sterling to sell the LA Clippers.
>
> Neither Berberian nor Streisand responded to ESPN's requests for comment.
>
> A lawyer familiar with the matter told ESPN that Berberian's motive for filing the suit is to embarrass Spanos publicly. The lawyer went on to say that Berberian's three siblings, Dean, Michael and Alexis, have stood firmly in opposing her in the past and that "today's lawsuit will receive the same reaction."
>
> The NFL has declined comment on the matter.
>
> Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
>

This is really unfortunate. This is at least the second lawsuit she has
filed. She has received no support from the rest of the family, as far
as I know.

--Robin

Robin Miller wrote:
> phlash74 wrote:
>> https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34064763/dean-spanos-sued-sister-accused-misogynistic-behavior-legal-battle-continues-control-los-angeles-chargers
>>
>>
>> Dean Spanos sued by sister, accused of 'misogynistic' behavior as
>> legal battle continues over control of Los Angeles Chargers
>> 11:04 AM PT
>> Adam Schefter and Kimberley Martin
>>
>> Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos has been accused of
>> "misogynistic" behavior, "self-dealing" and repeated "breaches of
>> fiduciary duty" by his sister in a lawsuit that escalates the
>> siblings' ongoing legal battle over control of the team.
>>
>> The lawsuit was filed Thursday in San Joaquin County Superior Court by
>> attorneys representing Dea Spanos Berberian, who is seeking sole
>> control of a family trust that constitutes more than one-third of the
>> Chargers' ownership. The suit also asks the court to suspend and
>> remove Spanos as a co-trustee and seeks unspecified financial damages
>> awarded to Berberian.
>>
>> Spanos, Berberian and their siblings Michael Spanos and Alexandra
>> Spanos Ruhl each own 15% of the Chargers franchise, with 36% managed
>> by the family trust and the remaining 4% owned by non-family members.
>>
>> Spanos and Berberian were left as co-trustees of the trust after the
>> deaths of Alex and Faye Spanos in 2018.
>>
>> Berberian accuses brothers Dean and Michael of repeatedly acting "out
>> of their deeply-held misogynistic attitudes and sense of entitlement
>> as the men in the family ... and to rationalize their pitiable
>> behavior which she believes is intended to teach her that a woman has
>> no rights, no matter what any trust instrument might say." The lawsuit
>> also states that Dean and Michael "believe to their cores that,
>> regardless of what their parents intended and their wills specified,
>> men are in charge and women should shut up."
>>
>> Berberian contends that the Spanos family trust and subtrusts are all
>> but insolvent, that Spanos' decision to move the Chargers to Los
>> Angeles has proved financially ruinous and that the family has no
>> option but to sell the team to satisfy the trust's debt obligations,
>> which she says are currently in excess of $358 million.
>>
>> The lawsuit also lists multiple allegations of "breaches of fiduciary
>> duty" by Dean Spanos, who is accused of diverting $105 million from
>> the trust to various debts. Spanos also allegedly manipulated the
>> trust to borrow over $60 million "for the wasteful purchase of an
>> airplane for Dean's and Michael's use that has no legitimate business
>> justification."
>>
>> Berberian also accuses her brothers of conspiring with Steven Cohen,
>> the executive vice president and COO of The Spanos Corporation, to
>> undermine Berberian by "deliberately" damaging her relationship with
>> the pastor of her Greek Orthodox church, Father Alex Karloutsos.
>>
>> Alex Spanos bought the San Diego Chargers in 1984, and Dean Spanos
>> took over managing the franchise in 1994. The legal conflict came into
>> public view in April 2021, when Berberian petitioned the Los Angeles
>> County Superior Court to put the trust up for sale.
>>
>> Berberian is being represented by Adam Streisand, who also represented
>> Jeanie Buss when she wrested control of the Los Angeles Lakers from
>> her brothers and Steve Ballmer in the trial to force Donald Sterling
>> to sell the LA Clippers.
>>
>> Neither Berberian nor Streisand responded to ESPN's requests for comment.
>>
>> A lawyer familiar with the matter told ESPN that Berberian's motive
>> for filing the suit is to embarrass Spanos publicly. The lawyer went
>> on to say that Berberian's three siblings, Dean, Michael and Alexis,
>> have stood firmly in opposing her in the past and that "today's
>> lawsuit will receive the same reaction."
>>
>> The NFL has declined comment on the matter.
>>
>> Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
>>
>
>
> This is really unfortunate. This is at least the second lawsuit she has
> filed. She has received no support from the rest of the family, as far
> as I know.
>
> --Robin
>
>

https://www.chargers.com/news/statements-issued-by-alexis-spanos-ruhl-and-the-families-of-alexis-spanos-ruhl-m

Statement Issued by the Families of Alexis Spanos Ruhl, Michael Spanos
and Dean Spanos

"Our parents, Alex and Faye, wanted the Chargers to be part of the
Spanos Family for generations to come. For the three of us the Chargers
is one of our family's most important legacies, just as it was for our
parents. Unfortunately, our sister Dea seems to have a different and
misguided personal agenda. If Dea no longer wishes to be part of this
family legacy, the three of us stand ready to purchase her share of the
franchise, as our agreements give us the right to do. In the meanwhile,
the operations of the Chargers will be entirely unaffected by this
matter, which relates only to the 36 percent share of the team that was
owned by our parents. The three of us are entitled to three-fourths of
that 36 percent share in any event, and under no circumstances will this
situation impact control of the franchise. The three of us will remain
firmly united as we seek to fulfill our parents' wishes to make every
decision in the best interests of the Los Angeles Chargers."

Statement of Alexis Spanos Ruhl

"The statements made in today's court filing about my brother Dean
Spanos are outrageously untrue. Throughout this entire ordeal that was
instigated without justification by my sister Dea Berberian, my brother
Dean has been unfailingly respectful of me and of my wishes. And he has
been fighting, along with my brother Michael and me, to fulfill the
wishes of our mother, Faye, relating to our family and our businesses.
To characterize Dean as somehow being less than fully respectful of the
women in our family is just not right."

--Robin

Robin Miller <robin.miller@invalid.invalid> writes:

> Robin Miller wrote:
>> phlash74 wrote:
>>> https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34064763/dean-spanos-sued-sister-accused-misogynistic-behavior-legal-battle-continues-control-los-angeles-chargers

>>> Spanos, Berberian and their siblings Michael Spanos and Alexandra
>>> Spanos Ruhl each own 15% of the Chargers franchise, with 36%
>>> managed by the family trust and the remaining 4% owned by
>>> non-family members.

Each of 4 people own 24% of the team in terms of assets and earnings.

>>> Spanos and Berberian were left as co-trustees of the trust after
>>> the deaths of Alex and Faye Spanos in 2018.

Berberian has extra voting power as co-trustee, but apparently not enough.

Berberian wants to sell her 15%, but she can't get full value unless
controlling ownership is sold to 1 person. I'm just making up numbers,
but it wouldn't surprise me if she could get 15% of $5B if control was
sold, but only 15% of $3B or less if someone offered to buy only her share.

>> This is really unfortunate. This is at least the second lawsuit she
>> has filed. She has received no support from the rest of the family,
>> as far as I know.
>>
>> --Robin

To me, there are 4 people with equal interests, and 3 of the 4 want to
hold onto a unique investment. Berberian is trying to leverage her
position as co-trustee. Why should she be able to overrule the other 3?

> https://www.chargers.com/news/statements-issued-by-alexis-spanos-ruhl-and-the-families-of-alexis-spanos-ruhl-m
>
>
> Statement Issued by the Families of Alexis Spanos Ruhl, Michael Spanos
> and Dean Spanos
>
> "Our parents, Alex and Faye, wanted the Chargers to be part of the
> Spanos Family for generations to come. For the three of us the
> Chargers is one of our family's most important legacies, just as it
> was for our parents.

This seems likely to be true to me. Legacy is a huge deal.

Eddie

Eddie Grove wrote:
> Robin Miller <robin.miller@invalid.invalid> writes:
>
>> Robin Miller wrote:
>>> phlash74 wrote:
>>>> https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34064763/dean-spanos-sued-sister-accused-misogynistic-behavior-legal-battle-continues-control-los-angeles-chargers
>
>>>> Spanos, Berberian and their siblings Michael Spanos and Alexandra
>>>> Spanos Ruhl each own 15% of the Chargers franchise, with 36%
>>>> managed by the family trust and the remaining 4% owned by
>>>> non-family members.
>
> Each of 4 people own 24% of the team in terms of assets and earnings.
>
>>>> Spanos and Berberian were left as co-trustees of the trust after
>>>> the deaths of Alex and Faye Spanos in 2018.
>
> Berberian has extra voting power as co-trustee, but apparently not enough.
>
> Berberian wants to sell her 15%, but she can't get full value unless
> controlling ownership is sold to 1 person. I'm just making up numbers,
> but it wouldn't surprise me if she could get 15% of $5B if control was
> sold, but only 15% of $3B or less if someone offered to buy only her share.
>
>>> This is really unfortunate. This is at least the second lawsuit she
>>> has filed. She has received no support from the rest of the family,
>>> as far as I know.
>>>
>>> --Robin
>
> To me, there are 4 people with equal interests, and 3 of the 4 want to
> hold onto a unique investment. Berberian is trying to leverage her
> position as co-trustee. Why should she be able to overrule the other 3?
>
>> https://www.chargers.com/news/statements-issued-by-alexis-spanos-ruhl-and-the-families-of-alexis-spanos-ruhl-m
>>
>>
>> Statement Issued by the Families of Alexis Spanos Ruhl, Michael Spanos
>> and Dean Spanos
>>
>> "Our parents, Alex and Faye, wanted the Chargers to be part of the
>> Spanos Family for generations to come. For the three of us the
>> Chargers is one of our family's most important legacies, just as it
>> was for our parents.
>
> This seems likely to be true to me. Legacy is a huge deal.
>
> Eddie
>

Especially since they are not a super-rich family.

--Robin