LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman from Tennessee has filed a federal lawsuit accusing James Dolan, chairman of Madison Square Garden and governor of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, of pressuring her into unwanted sex almost ten years ago and facilitating an encounter with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, whom she also accused of sexual assault.
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that Kellye Croft, a licensed massage therapist, met Dolan in 2013 while on tour with the rock band Eagles. According to the lawsuit, Dolan became “extremely assertive” and forced Croft into unwanted sexual intercourse during one encounter. The lawsuit further claims that Croft felt obligated to submit to sex with Dolan during subsequent encounters.
Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that in January 2014, Dolan arranged for Croft to travel to Los Angeles to join the tour and introduced her to Weinstein. Croft claims that Weinstein sexually assaulted her at the Beverly Hills hotel with Dolan’s knowledge. In response, Dolan allegedly characterized Weinstein as a “troubled person” with “serious issues.”
Dolan, through his attorney E. Danya Perry, denies the allegations and states that he had a friendship with Croft.
Croft, now 38, is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages. In response to the lawsuit, Jennifer Bonjean, a lawyer for Weinstein, stated that her client vehemently denies the allegations.
Weinstein, who is currently serving a 39-year prison sentence for rape and sexual assault, had an additional 16 years added to his sentence last year.
During a news conference, NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the lawsuit but stated that he had limited knowledge. However, Douglas H. Wigdor, an attorney for Croft, criticized Silver’s response and called for a fair and unbiased investigation into the allegations by both the NBA and NHL.
The lawsuit against Dolan is the latest in a series of allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against powerful figures in the entertainment industry, which has sparked a larger conversation about the mistreatment of women and the abuse of power.
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