James Dolan, the head of Madison Square Garden, has achieved a legal victory in a federal court in California. The claims against him, made by Kellye Croft, regarding alleged sexual misconduct have been dismissed. Croft, a former masseuse on a 2013 tour featuring the Eagles and Dolan’s band JD & the Straight Shot, claimed she was pressured into sex. However, the judge ruled to dismiss the claims without prejudice, giving Croft an opportunity to file an amended complaint by July 8.
Response to Allegations
Dolan’s spokesperson released a statement following the court’s decision, stating that the allegations against Dolan have no merit. The spokesperson attributed the claims to a vendetta by Croft’s attorney, Doug Wigdor, against Dolan and Madison Square Garden. Wigdor’s firm, on the other hand, expressed their intention to address the court’s concerns regarding the sex trafficking claim in the amended complaint.
Legal History
This is not the first time Wigdor and Madison Square Garden have clashed in court. Previously, Wigdor’s firm represented former Knick Charles Oakley in a case against Dolan and MSG over Oakley’s ejection from the arena in 2017. Despite MSG’s denial of Oakley’s claims, his case was initially dismissed by a Manhattan judge in 2020 and 2021, only to be revived by an appeals court in 2023. Croft’s lawsuit, alleging sex assault and trafficking, was filed earlier this year in US District Court for the Central District of California.
By carefully analyzing the legal proceedings and statements from both parties, it is evident that the case involving James Dolan and Kellye Croft is a contentious legal battle with serious allegations at stake. While Dolan’s camp asserts that the claims have no merit and are part of a personal vendetta, Croft’s legal team remains steadfast in their pursuit of justice for their client. As the case continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how the legal system addresses the complexities of the allegations and whether a resolution can be reached that satisfies all parties involved.