Judge dismisses lawsuit accusing Knicks owner James Dolan of sexual assault and sex trafficking

A US District Court judge in California on Tuesday dismissed a federal lawsuit against New York Knicks and New York Rangers owner James Dolan. The lawsuit alleged that Dolan sexually assaulted and trafficked a masseuse in 2013. The plaintiff, Kelly Croft, The suit was originally filed on Jan. 16Dolan is accused of sexually abusing her while his band was on tour with The Eagles. In that case, the lawsuit alleges that while Croft was massaging Dolan, the Knicks team owner “became extremely vocal, and pressured Ms. Croft into having unwanted sexual contact with him,” even though she had told him she did not want to engage in any sexual activity with him.

The lawsuit details another incident in late 2013, in which Croft was flown to California under the pretense of being told she would be working as a massage therapist. However, the lawsuit alleges that Croft was “trafficked” by Dolan to “engage in illegal and unwanted sexual activity with him.” Croft also alleges that Dolan helped her meet convicted sex offender and former film producer Harvey Weinstein in January 2014, which led to Weinstein sexually assaulting Croft.

US District Judge Percy Anderson dismissed Croft’s allegations that she was a victim of sex trafficking with prejudice, which means it cannot be re-filed. However, the other claims, which include sexual assault against Dolan, sexual assault by Weinstein and aiding and abetting sexual assault by Dolan, were dismissed without prejudice, which means Croft can re-file them. The court also ordered Croft to pay the defendant’s court costs.

“We respectfully disagree with the District Court’s decision, which we believe misinterprets federal sex trafficking law and undermines important protections for sex trafficking survivors,” Croft’s attorneys, Kevin Mintzer and Meredith Firetog, told ESPN. “We will appeal this decision and are confident the Court of Appeals will correct this injustice. We will also continue to pursue Ms. Croft’s sexual assault claims against James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein, who are unaffected by this decision.” [Tuesday’s] decision. Our fight for Ms. Croft has just begun.”

Croft was seeking monetary damages and wanted a jury trial in the suit filed in January.