Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Judge dismisses federal lawsuit against Dolan

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Wednesday, 18 September 2024 09:06

A judge on Tuesday dismissed a federal lawsuit filed by a woman who accused James Dolan, chairman of Madison Square Garden and governor of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, of unwanted sex nearly a decade ago while also alleging that Dolan facilitated an encounter with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, whom she also claimed sexually assaulted her.

The lawsuit was dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge in California, according to a three-page filing Tuesday night that was obtained by ESPN.

The lawsuit was originally filed in January by a Tennessee woman named Kellye Croft who said she was 27 and working as a licensed massage therapist when she met Dolan in fall 2013 while on a tour with a rock band, the Eagles. (Dolan's band, JD & The Straight Shot, opened for the Eagles during the tour.)

She alleged that Dolan pressured her into unwanted sexual intercourse with him. She also alleged that in January 2014, Dolan helped arrange for her to travel to Los Angeles to join the tour, which, in an amended version of her complaint from April, she claimed constituted sex trafficking -- a federal crime.

In Los Angeles, Croft alleged that she met Weinstein at The Beverly Hills Hotel, where Dolan was paying for her to stay. Weinstein, she alleged, introduced himself as one of Dolan's "best friends," then asked whether she was the massage therapist Dolan had mentioned and previously praised.

She accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her at the hotel, after which she informed Dolan, who allegedly responded by telling her that Weinstein was "a troubled person" with "serious issues." The incident predated Weinstein being convicted for years of sexual abuse following investigative reports in 2017 by The New York Times and The New Yorker.

That alleged incident also predated remarks by Dolan that he was unaware Weinstein, who had been a close friend, was allegedly a serial abuser of women. In 2018, Dolan, who served as a member of the board of directors of The Weinstein Company in 2015 and 2016, released a song with his band titled, "I Should've Known," which he later connected, in part, to Weinstein.

ESPN typically does not name victims of alleged sexual assaults, but Croft issued a public statement when her lawsuit was filed. Croft sought a jury trial and unspecified damages. Attorneys for Dolan and Weinstein both filed subsequent motions to have the case dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson dismissed Croft's claim of sex trafficking with prejudice, meaning it cannot be filed again. Her claims of sexual battery against Dolan, sexual assault by Weinstein, and aiding and abetting of sexual assault by Dolan were dismissed without prejudice, meaning she could file those claims again.

Additionally, the judge ordered her to pay the defendants' court costs.

"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," Croft's attorneys, Kevin Mintzer and Meredith Firetog, wrote in an email to ESPN. "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 the [Tuesday's] decision. Our fight for Ms. Croft is just beginning."

Representatives for Dolan and for Weinstein didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read 69 times

Soccer

State of play at Man City: Guardiola's future, squad uncertainty and exec turnover

State of play at Man City: Guardiola's future, squad uncertainty and exec turnover

EmailPrintOpen Extended Reactions(Editor's Note: This feature has been updated slightly following ne...

Messi sets up Martinez golazo in Argentina win

Messi sets up Martinez golazo in Argentina win

Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez scored in the second half to secure a 1-0 home win against Peru i...

Source: Man City confident Pep will sign new deal

Source: Man City confident Pep will sign new deal

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsManchester City are growing increasingly confident Pep Guardiola wi...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Celtics' hot shooting ends Cavs' unbeaten streak

Celtics' hot shooting ends Cavs' unbeaten streak

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBOSTON -- Before the Cleveland Cavaliers put their perfect 15-0 sta...

Doncic returns after missing game with sore knee

Doncic returns after missing game with sore knee

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDALLAS -- Mavericks guard Luka Doncic returned to the lineup for Tu...

Baseball

Vogt, Murphy win top managers in first year on job

Vogt, Murphy win top managers in first year on job

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Milwaukee Brewers' Pat Murphy and Cleveland Guardians' Stephen...

Soto, Bregman, 10 more opt for MLB free agency

Soto, Bregman, 10 more opt for MLB free agency

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJuan Soto, Alex Bregman, Willy Adames, Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes a...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated