Steve Ballmer’s attorneys are asking to dismiss a lawsuit claiming the Los Angeles Clippers owner participated in fraud by paying star Kawhi Leonard through defunct sustainability startup Aspiration, referring to the allegations as “sensational” and “patently false” in court documents obtained by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.
Eleven Aspiration investors initially filed a lawsuit in July 2025 against co-founder Joseph Sanberg and others at the company, alleging they were defrauded of millions. Ballmer was not originally listed as a defendant.
Aspiration filed for bankruptcy last March, and Sanberg agreed in August to plead guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of more than $248 million.