A lawsuit accusing Madison Sq. Backyard proprietor James Dolan of sexually assaulting a younger masseuse — then setting her as much as be harassed by disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein — has been dismissed by a California federal choose.
Kellye Croft, 38, filed a lawsuit in January alleging that Dolan, 69, pressured her into having intercourse in 2013 when she was working as a licensed therapeutic massage therapist on a tour for The Eagles.
Dolan’s band, JD and the Straight Shot, was opening for the traditional rock band when he allegedly used his place of affect to coerce Croft, then 27, into intercourse, the lawsuit states.
Croft claimed she felt “disgusted and terrified” however submitted to intercourse due to Dolan’s place. The MSG proprietor was 58 on the time.
The masseuse additionally accused Dolan of intercourse trafficking, alleging that the businessman flew her to Los Angeles for the tour, regardless of nearly no tour members signing up for therapeutic massage appointments.
Whereas staying in a lodge allegedly paid for by Dolan, Croft claimed that he orchestrated a gathering with Weinstein.
The lawsuit claimed that Weinstein approached her and launched himself as a pal of Dolan’s earlier than inquiring if she would wish to work as a masseuse on his film units.
The now-imprisoned producer then allegedly demanded a therapeutic massage in his lodge room — a proposition Croft denied, in accordance with the go well with.
“You recognize, Jim and I are finest mates,” Weinstein allegedly advised her. “He’s going to be very disillusioned you led me on. This gained’t look good for you.”
Nevertheless, in an order signed Tuesday, District Courtroom Decide Percy Anderson mentioned Croft’s lawsuit didn’t meet the authorized commonplace for intercourse trafficking and dismissed the cost with out prejudice — which means the case might be refiled later.
Decide Anderson additionally dismissed the sexual assault claims and ordered Croft to pay authorized prices for the defendants.
“We’re very happy with the dismissal of the lawsuit, which was a malicious try to say horrific allegations by an legal professional who subverts the authorized system for private achieve,” a spokesperson for Dolan mentioned.
“This additionally occurs to be the identical legal professional within the Charles Oakley case,” the spokesperson famous, referencing one other lawsuit the place Dolan was just lately ordered to take a seat for a deposition.
Croft’s attorneys advised The Put up Wednesday they plan to enchantment.
“We respectfully disagree with the District Courtroom’s resolution, which we consider incorrectly interprets the federal intercourse trafficking regulation and undermines critically vital protections for intercourse trafficking survivors,” mentioned attorneys Kevin Mintzer and Meredith Firetog.
“We will even proceed to pursue Ms. Croft’s sexual battery claims in opposition to James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein, which stay unaffected by the choice. Our combat for Ms. Croft is simply starting.”
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