Mark Cuban, former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has initiated legal steps that could lead to a lawsuit against the team’s current majority owner Patrick Dumont. Cuban filed a Rule 202 petition in Texas state court seeking information that might reveal Dumont unlawfully excluded him from opportunities related to the Mavericks' new arena project. The petition targets Arena Development Intermediate (ADI), a corporate entity formed by Dumont’s group to pursue the new arena, requesting a deposition and specific documents about the endeavor.

The legal move comes nearly three years after Cuban sold his majority stake in the Mavericks in 2023 for $3.5 billion, retaining a 27% ownership share. Cuban claims that as part of the sale, he was to continue overseeing basketball operations while Dumont would manage the business side, including real estate initiatives. However, Cuban alleges Dumont reneged on a “handshake agreement,” excluding him from control over basketball operations and the arena development process, with Dumont reportedly giving control to former GM Nico Harrison instead.

Cuban’s petition is not a formal lawsuit but a preliminary step designed to reveal facts that could support legal claims such as fraud, which require proving intentional deception. Legal experts note that obtaining transparency on Dumont’s actions and corporate decisions is critical before any lawsuit can be filed, as it will show whether Cuban’s concerns are substantiated or merely speculative. A hearing on the petition will determine if Cuban gains access to the requested information.

The filing also highlights Cuban’s complaint that Dumont failed to notify him about recent developments, specifically the Mavericks’ acquisition options for approximately 104 acres at the former Valley View Mall site in Dallas. Cuban worries that if Dumont completes real estate deals related to the arena without his participation, it would be difficult or impossible to unwind the transactions later, leaving Cuban with only monetary damages. Both Cuban and Dumont declined further comment beyond the legal filing.