Bates is furious that old board members are refusing to hand over a half-stake in the club.
Now he is threatening to issue writs against Melvyn Levi, Melvin Helme and ex-chairman Gerald Krasner for allegedly failing to fulfil contractual obligations involved in the takeover last January.
The old board still hold a 50 per cent share in Leeds, despite outright ownership falling to Bates.
And Bates is being blocked in his attempts to complete the transfer.
Bates said: "Levi and his cohorts have decided to be unethical and play it dirty. They will live to rue their behaviour."