U.S. District Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Knicks and Rangers Owner James Dolan
In a critical decision on Tuesday, a U.S. District Court judge in California dismissed a federal lawsuit against James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. The lawsuit had been filed by Kellye Croft on January 16 and contained grave allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking dating back to 2013.
Serious Allegations
Croft accused Dolan of sexually assaulting her while his band was on tour with The Eagles. According to her, Dolan was "extremely assertive, and pressured Ms. Croft into unwanted sexual intercourse with him," despite her clear objections.
Another troubling claim from Croft involved her being flown out to California under the pretense of working as a massage therapist, only to be allegedly trafficked by Dolan "to engage in unlawful and unwelcome sex acts." She also alleged that Dolan facilitated her meeting with convicted sex offender and former movie producer Harvey Weinstein in January 2014, which led to an assault by Weinstein.
Dismissal with Prejudice
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson dismissed Croft’s sex trafficking allegations with prejudice, meaning these charges cannot be brought up again. However, other claims, including sexual battery against Dolan, sexual assault by Weinstein, and aiding and abetting of sexual assault by Dolan, were dismissed without prejudice, giving Croft the opportunity to refile those specific claims if she chooses to do so.
Additionally, the court mandated that Croft pay the defendant's court costs. Initially, Croft was seeking monetary damages and a trial by jury for her claims.
Response from Croft's Legal Team
Croft’s attorneys, Kevin Mintzer and Meredith Firetog, expressed their disagreement with the court's judgment. "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," they stated.
The attorneys also indicated their plans to appeal the decision. "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."
The developments in this case collaborate a complex legal battle that has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile individuals involved and the serious nature of the allegations. As Croft's legal team prepares for an appeal and considers refiling other claims, the public and legal community will be watching closely to see how these accusations against prominent figures unfold.