What Did James Dolan Do? New York Knicks owner James Dolan accused of sexual assault in Lawsuit

In a recent lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, James Dolan, the CEO of Madison Square Garden Entertainment and owner of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, has been accused of sexual assault and trafficking. The lawsuit also implicates Harvey Weinstein in a separate case of sexual assault.

According to the federal complaint, Dolan and Weinstein allegedly sexually assaulted massage therapist Kellye Croft on different occasions in 2013 and 2014. At the time, Croft was working as a massage therapist for the band the Eagles.

Both Dolan and Weinstein have denied these allegations through their representatives, issuing statements to that effect.

During the “History of the Eagles – Live in Concert” tour, Dolan’s own band was opening for the Eagles, and Croft was hired by the band in 2013 to accompany them on their travels.

As stated in the complaint, Croft claimed that Dolan initially scheduled an appointment with her in November 2013, and during their second appointment, he allegedly forced himself upon her.

In the lawsuit, it was claimed that Dolan displayed an excessive level of assertiveness and pressured Ms. Croft into engaging in unwanted sexual intercourse during a massage session.

Despite Ms. Croft’s attempts to put an end to the massage, Dolan persisted and even intensified his advances, treating her resistance as a challenge or game. The lawsuit further alleged that Dolan forcefully grabbed Ms. Croft’s hands, pulling her towards a nearby couch and placing her hands between his knees as he sat down.

Following the incident, the lawsuit asserted that Dolan, who is significantly older than Ms. Croft, continued to make sexual advances towards her. Ms. Croft experienced feelings of disgust and terror due to the situation.

However, the lawsuit explained that the combination of her isolation from others on the tour, Dolan’s attention towards her, his claims of taking care of her, and his immense power over everyone’s position on the tour, including hers, led her to eventually submit to his advances.

Towards the end of 2013, Ms. Croft was invited to join the Eagles on their tour in Los Angeles. However, the lawsuit stated that she was unaware that Dolan and his band would still be the opening act when she accepted the invitation.

According to the complaint, Ms. Croft believed that she had been hired to continue her work as a licensed masseuse for the Eagles. However, Dolan allegedly exploited her for his own sexual gratification, engaging in unlawful trafficking.

The complaint further alleged that Dolan expected Ms. Croft to engage in sexual activities with him during the tour, leaving her either isolated or waiting for his instructions.

On January 21, after returning to her hotel in California, Ms. Croft claimed that Weinstein approached her and proposed hiring her to work on his film productions. She agreed to continue the discussion in his hotel suite, but according to the complaint, she was then sexually assaulted by Weinstein.

According to the complaint, Ms. Croft fought back against Weinstein to the best of her ability, despite feeling dwarfed by his presence. She struggled to sit up and push him away.

The alleged assault was interrupted by a phone call from Dolan, during which Weinstein allegedly made a statement implying that Dolan would be disappointed in Croft for leading him on.

In her statement, Croft claimed that James Dolan manipulated her, brought her to California to abuse her, and then orchestrated a brutal attack by Weinstein.

E. Dayna Perry, Dolan’s legal representative, stated to CBS News that there is no merit to any of the allegations against Dolan. Perry argued that Croft and Dolan had a friendship, and the references to Weinstein were intended to incite and appeared to be copied from previous cases against Weinstein.

Perry characterized these claims as retaliation from an attorney who has brought multiple unsuccessful cases against Dolan.

Perry further added, “Mr. Dolan always believed Ms. Croft to be a good person and is surprised she would agree to these claims. This is not a matter of conflicting testimonies, as we have compelling evidence to support our position. We eagerly anticipate presenting this evidence in court.”

Weinstein’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, issued a statement denying the allegations in the lawsuit and expressing a desire to litigate the case in court to reveal the truth.

Croft acknowledged the profound suffering she had endured due to the alleged incidents and emphasized that coming forward and seeking justice was not an easy decision.

She expressed hope that her lawsuit would compel Dolan to acknowledge his actions and take responsibility for the harm he caused.