Warning: The following article contains descriptions of alleged graphic sexual assault.
A federal lawsuit filed against James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers teams, was dismissed by a judge on Tuesday night. The lawsuit accused Dolan of pressuring a woman into unwanted sex and coordinating an encounter with Harvey Weinstein, as reported by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes.
Kellye Croft initially filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles, alleging that Dolan pressured her into sex in 2013 and 2014. She also accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in a Beverly Hills hotel. Croft further claimed that both men engaged in sexual assault and unwanted touching, with Dolan also accused of sex trafficking.
“We are very pleased with the dismissal of the lawsuit, which was a malicious attempt to assert horrific allegations by an attorney who subverts the legal system for personal gain – this also happens to be the same attorney in the Charles Oakley case,” a Dolan spokesperson told Yahoo Sports in a statement.
The Oakley case, stemming from an incident in which the former New York Knicks player was ejected from Madison Square Garden in 2017, is still ongoing.
In her lawsuit, Croft mentioned working as a massage therapist for the Eagles band during their tour in 2013, where Dolan’s band, JD & the Straight Shot, was an opening act. She claimed that Dolan pressured her into sex multiple times during the tour, feeling obligated to submit to him.
While at The Forum in Inglewood, California, in January 2014, Croft reconnected with the tour and met Weinstein at a Beverly Hills hotel, allegedly set up by Dolan. She stated that Weinstein sexually assaulted her that night, with Dolan showing no surprise as he considered Weinstein a troubled individual with serious issues.
Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted of various sex crimes, contributing to the #MeToo movement.
Croft’s claim of sex trafficking was dismissed with prejudice, while her sexual battery, sexual assault, and aiding and abetting of sexual assault claims were dismissed without prejudice. Croft’s attorneys plan to appeal the decision.
“We respectfully disagree with the District Court’s decision, which we believe incorrectly interprets the federal sex trafficking law and undermines critically important protections for sex trafficking survivors,” her attorneys said. “We will be appealing this decision and are confident that the Court of Appeals will correct this injustice. We will also continue to pursue Ms. Croft’s sexual battery claims against James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein, which remain unaffected by [Tuesday’s] decision. Our fight for Ms. Croft is just beginning.”
Dolan has denied knowledge of Weinstein’s misconduct despite their years of friendship. Dolan served on the board of one of Weinstein’s production companies and even released a song about it with his band in 2018. A lawsuit filed in 2017, later settled, alleged that several men on Weinstein’s board were complicit in covering up his conduct.
James Dolan has been leading the Madison Square Garden Sports Company for over two decades, overseeing the Knicks and Rangers. The Knicks were last valued at $6.6 billion by Forbes, making them the second-most valuable franchise in the NBA.
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