James Dolan cleared in federal sexual assault lawsuit ruling
A U.S. District Court docket decide in California has dismissed a federal lawsuit accusing James Dolan of sexual assault, based on a report by Baxter Holmes of ESPN.
The lawsuit, filed by Kellye Croft in January, alleged that Dolan, chairman of Madison Sq. Backyard and governor of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, engaged in undesirable sexual conduct practically a decade in the past.
The lady, a licensed therapeutic massage therapist, claimed she met Dolan whereas he was on tour with the Eagles in 2013, as his band, JD & The Straight Shot, opened for them.
In her grievance, Croft accused Dolan of pressuring her into undesirable sexual activity and facilitating an encounter with Harvey Weinstein in Los Angeles in 2014.
She alleged that Dolan paid for her keep at The Beverly Hills Resort, the place she met Weinstein, who launched himself as Dolan’s “finest good friend.”
Based on the grievance, Weinstein then sexually assaulted her on the lodge.
Croft knowledgeable Dolan of the assault, and he allegedly responded by saying that Weinstein was “a troubled particular person” with “severe points.”
The lawsuit additionally included allegations of intercourse trafficking, asserting that Dolan organized her journey to Los Angeles for unlawful functions, a declare Croft’s attorneys linked to federal crimes.
U.S. District Decide Percy Anderson dismissed Croft’s intercourse trafficking declare with prejudice, which means it can’t be refiled.
The claims of sexual battery towards Dolan, sexual assault by Weinstein, and aiding and abetting by Dolan have been dismissed with out prejudice, leaving room for these claims to be refiled.
The decide additionally ordered Croft to pay court docket prices for the defendants.
Croft’s attorneys, Kevin Mintzer and Meredith Firetog, expressed disagreement with the choice, stating, “We shall be interesting this choice and are assured that the Court docket of Appeals will appropriate this injustice.”
In addition they affirmed their intent to proceed pursuing Croft’s claims of sexual battery towards Dolan and Weinstein.
The lawsuit had drawn vital consideration as a result of involvement of Weinstein, who was convicted of sexual crimes following a 2017 investigation by The New York Instances and The New Yorker.
Dolan had beforehand served on the board of The Weinstein Firm however claimed to be unaware of Weinstein’s misconduct earlier than his conviction.
In 2018, Dolan launched a track titled “I Ought to’ve Recognized,” which he later related to his remorse over Weinstein’s actions.
A spokesperson for Dolan expressed satisfaction with the dismissal, stating, “We’re more than happy with the dismissal of the lawsuit, which was a malicious try to claim horrific allegations by an lawyer who subverts the authorized system for private achieve.”
