In a significant development 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, initially filed by Kellye Croft on January 16, contained serious allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking dating back to 2013.
Lawsuit Allegations Against Dolan
Kellye Croft's lawsuit accused Dolan of sexually assaulting her while his band was on tour with The Eagles. According to the allegations, Dolan was "extremely assertive, and pressured Ms. Croft into unwanted sexual intercourse with him," despite her clear objections.
The situation intensified later in 2013 when Croft was reportedly flown to California under false pretenses to work as a massage therapist. Instead, she alleges that Dolan trafficked her to "engage in unlawful and unwelcome sex acts." The allegations did not stop there; she further claimed that Dolan facilitated a meeting between her and convicted sex offender and former movie producer Harvey Weinstein in January 2014, which led to an assault by Weinstein.
Judge's Ruling
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson's ruling dismissed Croft's sex trafficking allegations with prejudice, signifying that 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. This crucial distinction allows Croft the opportunity to refile those specific claims should she choose to do so.
The court also mandated that Croft pay the defendant's court costs. Initially, she was seeking monetary damages and a trial by jury for her claims.
Legal Reactions
In a statement, Croft's attorneys, Kevin Mintzer and Meredith Firetog, expressed their disagreement with the court's decision. They remarked, "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 added, "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."
This case shines a spotlight on the broader issues of sexual assault and sex trafficking within high-profile industries and the legal challenges survivors face in seeking justice. As it stands, the battle is far from over, with Croft's legal team prepared to fight on multiple fronts. Only time will tell how the Court of Appeals will interpret the dismissed claims and whether the remaining allegations will progress through the legal system.