James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks, is once again facing legal troubles. His decision to ban lawyers who represented a group of ticket resellers who sued him has put Madison Square Garden’s liquor license in jeopardy. Additionally, a new lawsuit has been filed against Dolan, accusing him of sexual misconduct, sex trafficking, and being linked to convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein.
The lawsuit, filed by a woman named Kellye Croft, alleges that Dolan pressured her into having sex with him while he and his band, JD and the Straight Shot, were on tour with the Eagles in 2013. Croft claims that she made it clear to Dolan that she did not want a sexual relationship with him, but felt pressured and obligated to engage in sexual activities with him multiple times.
According to the lawsuit, Dolan invited Croft to the Los Angeles leg of the tour in early 2014, where she encountered Weinstein. Croft alleges that Weinstein invited her to his hotel room and sexually assaulted her, but Dolan interrupted the assault with a phone call. Dolan allegedly later told her that Weinstein is “a troubled person.” Croft is suing Dolan for sex trafficking, and both Dolan and Weinstein for sexual assault and forcible touching.
Attorneys for both Dolan and Weinstein have denied the accusations. Dolan has claimed that he was not aware of Weinstein’s crimes and even wrote a song about it. However, this is not the first time Dolan has faced a sexual harassment case. In 2006, he was sued by Anucha Browne Sanders, a former executive at MSG, for sexual harassment and retaliation. The jury ruled in favor of Browne Sanders and awarded her over $11 million, which Dolan was personally responsible for paying.
The Browne Sanders case exposed a toxic culture within the New York Knicks and MSG, with allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation from multiple female employees. In 2007, a low-level employee was fired for sexual harassment, and MSG settled a lawsuit from a former New York Rangers cheerleading captain alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.
These recent allegations against Dolan highlight a pattern of sexual misconduct within his organization. Despite previous legal battles and the #MeToo movement shedding light on such issues, Dolan finds himself once again embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit. This raises questions about his ability to effectively manage his company and teams.
Dolan’s repeated legal troubles demonstrate his failure to address and prevent sexual misconduct within his organization. It is clear that he has been unable to fulfill his responsibilities as a leader, and his actions have brought shame and negative attention to himself, MSG, the Knicks, and the Rangers. It remains to be seen how these new allegations will impact Dolan and his future within the sports industry.
