New York Knicks Owner James Dolan Accused of Sexual Assault in Federal Lawsuit

A federal lawsuit filed in Los Angeles alleges that James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks, sexually assaulted a woman named Kellye Croft a decade ago and subsequently orchestrated her encounter with Harvey Weinstein, who then molested her. The alleged incidents took place in 2013 when Croft, a licensed massage therapist, was working on a tour for the rock band The Eagles, for which Dolan’s band JD & The Straight Shot served as the opening act.

According to the lawsuit, Dolan, who was 58 years old at the time, abused his power and influence on the tour to manipulate and pressure Croft into engaging in sexual activities with him. When the tour arrived in Los Angeles, Dolan flew Croft to the city, even though there was minimal demand for massages from tour members. The lawsuit claims that Dolan continued to exploit and assault Croft during this time.

In early 2014, the lawsuit further alleges that Dolan arranged a chance encounter between Croft and Weinstein, who was his friend. The meeting allegedly happened in a hotel elevator and was orchestrated by Dolan. After this encounter, Weinstein offered Croft opportunities to work on film sets, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses Dolan of using his power and influence to set up Croft for abuse.

Kellye Croft, the plaintiff, has come forward publicly with her allegations, which were detailed in the federal lawsuit. The Associated Press, which typically does not name individuals who claim to be sexually assaulted unless they agree to be identified, has reported on the case. The lawsuit seeks justice for the alleged assault and exploitation committed by Dolan and Weinstein.