New York Knicks workforce proprietor James Dolan was named in a lawsuit filed in California alleging that he sexually assaulted and trafficked a masseuse. The lawsuit was filed on Jan. 16 and claims that in November 2013 Dolan sexually assaulted the plaintiff, Kellye Croft, whereas his band was on tour with The Eagles. In that occasion, the lawsuit alleges that whereas Croft was massaging Dolan the Knicks workforce proprietor was “extraordinarily assertive, and pressured Ms. Croft into undesirable sexual activity with him,” regardless of her being adamant that she didn’t wish to have interaction in any sexual exercise with him. Following that incident, in response to the lawsuit, Dolan repeatedly made sexual advances towards Croft.
In one other incident at finish of 2013, the lawsuit states that Croft was flown out to California in what she thought was to work as a therapeutic massage therapist. Nonetheless, the lawsuit states these had been “fradulent pretenses” and as an alternative Croft was “trafficked” by Dolan to “have interaction in illegal and unwelcome intercourse acts along with her.”
The lawsuit additionally alleges that Dolan “fraudulently coordinated” a gathering between Croft and convicted intercourse offender and former film producer Harvey Weinstein in January 2014, which led to Croft being sexually assaulted by Weinstein. The lawsuit alleges that Dolan knew about Weinstein’s historical past of sexually assaulting and abusing ladies, and when Croft alerted Dolan of the sexual assault by Weinstein he did nothing about it.
“I’ve suffered so profoundly due to what James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein did to me years in the past, and it was not a straightforward determination to return ahead and search justice,” Croft stated in an announcement. “However for me, to really deal with my trauma, I would like to hunt accountability. James Dolan manipulated me, introduced me to California to abuse me, after which set me up for a vicious assault by Weinstein. My hope is that my lawsuit will pressure Dolan to acknowledge what he did to me and to take duty for the hurt he has precipitated.”
In an announcement by Dolan’s lawyer, E. Danya Perry, he’s denying the allegations in opposition to him whereas additionally denying that he knew about Weinstein’s historical past.
“There’s completely no benefit to any of the allegations in opposition to Mr. Dolan. Kellye Croft and James Dolan had a friendship. The references to Harvey Weinstein are merely meant to inflame and seem like plagiarized from prior instances in opposition to Mr. Weinstein. These claims mirror an act of retaliation by an legal professional who has introduced a number of instances in opposition to Mr. Dolan and has not, and can’t, win a judgement in opposition to him. Mr. Dolan all the time believed Ms. Croft to be an excellent particular person and is stunned she would agree to those claims. Backside line, this isn’t a he stated/she stated matter and there may be compelling proof to again up our place. We stay up for proving that in court docket.”
Dolan, 68, is the chairman and CEO of Madison Sq. Backyard Sports activities, the group that manages the Knicks and Rangers. He’s additionally the chairman of MSG Networks.
Croft is in search of financial damages and is demanding a trial by jury on the lawsuit.
