Jeanie Buss' Petition to Be Lakers Controlling Owner for Life Confirmed by Judge

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David J. Cowan signed off on a deal outlining Jeanie Buss will retain controlling ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne reported Monday.

In March, the Los Angeles Times' Nathan Fenno and Bill Plaschke reported Jim and Johnny Buss planned to remove Jeanie from the position of Lakers team president. Jeanie filed a restraining order preventing the move.

The attempted coup came after Jeanie named Magic Johnson the Lakers' president of basketball operations, replacing Jim.

Shelburne and ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst noted former owner Jerry Buss decided Jeanie would assume controlling ownership of the team upon his death, which was a significant designation:

"

The term "controlling owner" is important. That is what the NBA refers to as the person who makes the final decision for each team. There are all sorts of titles, management structures and partnerships among NBA teams. But at the end of the day, there are only 30 controlling owners. That designation is everything.

"

Buss' six children all share in profits made by the Lakers, but Jeanie has the ultimate authority for any team decisions, which is why she had the authority to fire Jim and bring on Johnson.

Fenno reported March 27 the three siblings reached an agreement for Jeanie to remain the controlling owner for as long as the Buss family owns the Lakers. As part of the deal, Jim resigned from the board of trustees, with Janie Buss taking his seat.

The respective parties were waiting for Judge Cowan to approve of the settlement, thus making it official.