LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Clippers want a judge to order arbitration of the claims of a former trainer who sued the organization, alleging he was wrongfully fired in 2023 for complaining that the team was subjecting Kawhi Leonard to “unsafe and illegal treatment” for his ongoing knee injuries in disregard for the star small forward’s safety.
Randy Shelton’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations also include retaliation, whistleblower retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On Friday, Clippers attorneys filed court papers with Judge Stephen P. Pfahler contending that Shelton is bound by his original hiring agreement to resolve employment disputes before an arbitrator rather than a jury.
“Despite plaintiff’s assertion that he would honor the terms of [his] employment agreements and live up to his obligations and duties, plaintiff filed his claims in the form of a civil lawsuit to make a public spectacle and to defame defendants with statements that he knows or should know are false,” Clipper attorneys state in their court papers.
Shelton “gloated” during his deposition that millions of people saw his lawsuit the day it was filed, the team lawyers further state in their pleadings.
In a sworn declaration, Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president for basketball operations, stated that Shelton signed his employment agreement in 2021 and was not rushed into reviewing it or prevented from having a lawyer examine the document.
To the contrary, Shelton said he had his attorney look at the employment agreement, according to Frank.
According to Shelton’s suit, he was fired for speaking out against the “unsafe and illegal treatment” of Leonard, in disregard for the player’s health and safety and known medical restrictions.
The team previously issued a statement regarding the lawsuit.
“Mr. Shelton’s claims were investigated and found to be without merit,” the statement read. “We honored Mr. Shelton’s employment contract and paid him in full. “This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false.”
The Clippers hired Shelton in July 2019, convincing him to leave his previous position at San Diego State University and the plaintiff’s arrival “was the culmination of a multiyear campaign by the L.A. Clippers to sign Leonard,” the suit filed in October 2024 states.
After Leonard himself left San Diego State years before, he hired Shelton to help him get ready for the NBA.
The suit alleges the Clippers “sought to ride Leonard’s back to success, in disregard for the load placed upon Leonard’s failing knees and ankle” as well as paying no attention to the psychological harm to Shelton, according to the suit.
Despite Leonard’s suffering of additional ankle injuries in November 2022 that should have been red flags that additional healing time was needed, team officials “demanded productivity now, circumventing Shelton and excluding Shelton from pertinent information regarding Leonard’s prognosis and care,” the suit alleges.
A hearing on the Clippers’ motion to compel arbitration is scheduled Oct. 24.
