Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is in federal court in Dallas, telling jurors about calls and emails he sent to the CEO of an Internet firm shortly before he sold all his shares in the company. Cuban鈥檚 lawyers say there was no privileged information in the conversation.
Update, 3:15 p.m. Thursday: 四虎影院's BJ Austin has this report on today's testimony:
The Securities and Exchange Commission says Cuban used confidential information from a phone call with the CEO of mamma.com about plans to sell more public shares of the company.
Prosecutors say that Cuban immediately sold his 600,000 shares to avoid losing $750,000. The additional stock sale would have diluted Cuban鈥檚 existing stock value and reduced his 6 percent ownership in the company.
Cuban鈥檚 lawyers say they鈥檒l prove that there was no privileged information in the conversation. On the stand Thursday, Cuban told prosecutors that he couldn鈥檛 recall what was said.
Prosecutors lined up a list of emails in which Cuban says he sold his shares because of the additional public stock offering. Cuban told jurors that was only one of several reasons he decided to sell.
Outside the courtroom during a lunch break, Mark Cuban preferred to talk to reporters about the Mavericks and the start of a new season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a special time when the season starts so I鈥檓 obviously very, very excited,鈥� Cuban said.
Back in the courtroom, Cuban showed his Mavs cufflinks to the court. He also turned to directly address jurors when answering some questions. During a short break as prosecutors conferred, Cuban asked the judge if he could stand up and stretch.
鈥淢y back hurts a little bit, but you know it鈥檚 always painful when I can鈥檛 be at practice watching the Mavs,鈥� Cuban said. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 always a problem.鈥�
Federal prosecutors are seeking the $750,000 plus penalties. The trial, which began Monday, could last three weeks.
Update, 12:15 p.m. Thursday: 四虎影院's BJ Austin has the latest details:
Taking the stand this morning, Cuban answered questions from prosecutors about a series of emails and an eight-minute phone call with the CEO of an internet search engine company in which he had invested.
Cuban testified he could not recall what was said during the phone call in 2004.
Cuban is accused of using insider information from the CEO to sell stock and save about $750,000 in losses.
The CEO, Guy Faur茅, testified he told Cuban about a planned special stock offering that would dilute Cuban鈥檚 existing shares and told Cuban that information was confidential.
Cuban disputes that.
Cuban looks relaxed and frequently speaks directly to jurors as prosecutors present a list of emails in which Cuban told emailers that he sold his mamma.com shares because of that public equity stock offering.
Cuban says that鈥檚 only one of reasons he sold.
The trial could last three weeks.
Original post: Mark Cuban is telling jurors in federal court in Dallas this morning about calls and emails he sent to the CEO of an Internet firm shortly before he sold all his shares in the company.
The billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks began testifying Thursday in the government's insider-trading lawsuit. The Securities and Exchange Commission accuses Cuban of using confidential inside information to dump his shares before the company announced news that sent the stock down.
Cuban has been jousting at times with the SEC lawyer questioning him, but he's also been smiling and making a few jokes.
The SEC wants Cuban to pay a fine and give up $750,000 in losses he avoided by selling the Mamma.com stock, but he's not charged with a crime. Cuban denies wrongdoing.
四虎影院鈥檚 BJ Austin is at today鈥檚 trial.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
