V. Stiviano, Shelly Sterling and Donald Serling in "friendlier" times.

By Debbie L. Sklar, Feb. 27, 2015, MyNewsLA.com

Attorneys for Shelly Sterling asked a judge to consider a non-jury trial of her lawsuit against a former confidante of her husband, but the defendant’s lawyer said his client is entitled to have a panel of citizens decide the case.

Shelly Sterling’s lawsuit seeks the return by V. Stiviano of any cash, real estate, cars or other belongings considered community property the plaintiff owned with her husband, former Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

Stiviano, who has used the names Vanessa Perez, Monica Gallegos and Maria Valdez, met Sterling at the February 2010 Super Bowl and began a sexual relationship with him that year, according to the lawsuit filed last March.

In interviews following the release of racially charged Donald Sterling recordings — which earned him a lifetime ban from the NBA and led to the $2 billion sale of the Clippers — Stiviano denied having a sexual relationship with him. Sterling, however, described his comments on the tapes as being the result of a heated exchange during a “lovers’ quarrel.”

Trial was tentatively rescheduled Friday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Fruin from March 9 to March 25 because he has another case he wants to try first.