In a decisive move, a U.S. District Court judge in California has thrown out a federal lawsuit against James Dolan, owner of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. This lawsuit, which had been filed by Kellye Croft on January 16, involved grave allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking dating back to 2013.
A Closer Look at the Allegations
The lawsuit asserted that Dolan assaulted Croft 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 explicit objections. The distressing claims didn’t stop there. Croft also alleged that later in 2013, she was flown to California under the pretense of working as a massage therapist but was subsequently trafficked by Dolan to "engage in unlawful and unwelcome sex acts."
Further compounding the allegations, Croft stated that Dolan facilitated a meeting between her and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein in January 2014, which allegedly led to an assault by Weinstein.
The Court's Decision
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson decisively dismissed the sex trafficking allegations with prejudice. This legal term means that these particular charges cannot be brought up again in court. However, other claims within the lawsuit, including sexual battery against Dolan and sexual assault by Weinstein, were dismissed without prejudice, allowing Croft the opportunity to refile those specific claims should she choose to pursue them further. Additionally, the court mandated that Croft pay the defendant's court costs.
Legal Responses and Future Plans
Notably, Croft’s legal team expressed their disagreement with the court's decision. "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," said Croft’s attorneys Kevin Mintzer and Meredith Firetog. They went on to emphasize their determination to seek justice for Croft: "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."
Croft initially sought monetary damages and a trial by jury based on her claims, indicating the severity and gravity of the allegations against Dolan and Weinstein. As the legal battle continues, the attention now shifts to the appeals process and the potential refiling of the other dismissed claims.
This case, situated at the intersection of professional sports and serious criminal allegations, underscores the ongoing challenges that many survivors face in seeking justice. It also brings to light the complexities involved in legally addressing such severe accusations within the U.S. justice system. The legal efforts of Croft’s attorneys suggest there may be much more to unfold as they push forward with their appeals and other legal avenues.