Lawyers for Kellye Croft, a Tennessee massage therapist, are also planning to refile her lawsuit against Dolan for sexual battery before the end of the year. Originally filed in federal court in California in early 2024, the suit also alleged that Dolan played a role in her assault by Dolan’s one-time friend, Harvey Weinstein. It was dismissed by a judge there. Dolan’s spokesperson has repeatedly denied the accusations, saying there is “absolutely no merit” to the claims.
In a separate lawsuit, former MSG security officer Donald Ingrasselino alleges that he was ordered to “find methods to secretly tape conversations over cellular phones and find the ability to eavesdrop on the complainant/victim” when Croft’s accusations surfaced. A judge is currently reviewing motions filed by Dolan’s lawyers to dismiss Ingrasselino’s suit. A spokesperson called Ingrasselino’s charges “baseless.”
Dolan was right that distractions can trip up a team, sowing just enough discord among its players to derail their chances at another title, and cut short their fans’ chances at another joyous summer.
In that way, maybe the Knicks are like the rest of us: at the mercy of their erratic boss.
This particular boss installed an array of surveillance cameras running facial recognition algorithms at his workplace, engaged in a years-long fight with one of his highest-profile former employees, and has a track record of targeting people who are critical of the job he’s done.
That’s a little more erratic than most. But, as a group, America’s cohort of pro sports owners has not exactly been doing a bang-up job of late. Take the Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer. He and his top executives just hobbled their team for years to come through under-the-table dealings with their star player. They’re now reportedly under an ongoing Justice Department investigation. Or look at Mark Walter, who abruptly sold his controlling interest in the Lakers this summer. He’s been accused in a class action lawsuit of insurance fraud and hiding a federal probe of his own. Walter’s holding company, TWG Global, denied any wrongdoing.
