James Dolan recently won a case in California federal court where claims were made against him by Kellye Croft. Croft alleged that she was pressured into sex while working as a masseuse on a 2013 tour that included the Eagles and Dolan’s band, JD & the Straight Shot. The claims have been dismissed without prejudice for now, giving Croft until July 8 to file an amended complaint in the case.
Dolan’s spokesperson stated that the Federal Court in Los Angeles found no merit in the allegations against Dolan. The spokesperson insinuated that the claims were part of Croft’s attorney Doug Wigdor’s vendetta against Dolan and Madison Square Garden. Wigdor’s firm, in response, expressed their intention to address the court’s concern regarding Croft’s sex trafficking claim in an amended complaint moving forward.
This is not the first time that Wigdor and Madison Square Garden have been involved in a legal battle. They previously faced off in court when Wigdor’s firm filed a case on behalf of former Knick Charles Oakley over his ejection from the arena in 2017. Despite MSG denying Oakley’s claims, his suit was dismissed twice by a Manhattan judge, only to be revived by an appeals court in 2023.
Kellye Croft filed a sex assault and trafficking lawsuit earlier this year against James Dolan and other parties in US District Court for the Central District of California. The case was dismissed without prejudice, allowing Croft the opportunity to file an amended complaint. Dolan’s spokesperson maintained that the court found no merit in the allegations, while Wigdor’s firm expressed their intention to address the court’s concerns in the amended complaint.
The legal battles involving James Dolan, Madison Square Garden, and Doug Wigdor’s firm highlight the ongoing disputes in the entertainment industry. Despite accusations of pressured sex and trafficking, the courts have dismissed the claims against Dolan at this time. This case adds to the history of legal conflicts between the parties, including the high-profile case involving former Knick Charles Oakley. As the legal process continues, both sides will likely present further arguments to defend their positions.
