Knicks and Bucks Owners Caught Up in Harvey Weinstein Civil Suit
New York Knicks Owner James Dolan and Milwaukee Bucks Co-owner Marc Lasry were named as defendants in a civil lawsuit filed against Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, alleging that the sports bigwigs helped cover up Weinstein’s sexual misconduct.
The suit claims that Dolan and Lasry knew of Weinstein’s “pattern and practice of predatory sexual conduct toward women” but covered it up for years because of their close relationship with the Hollywood producer, ESPN reported.
Dolan was a member of the Weinstein Company’s Board of Directors for about a year ending in June of 2016. For his part, Lasry’s stint on the board lasted for just over a year and ended in October of 2017.
The suit was filed by six women who claim to have been sexually assaulted by Weinstein. They are seeking a jury trial as well as class-action status so that other victims may join the suit.
“Defendants’ conduct has caused widespread damage,” the suit says, “including personal injury, emotional distress, and damage to the careers of plaintiffs and the class, for which Defendants must be held responsible.”
Neither Dolan, Lasry, nor their sports organizations have issued any statements on the lawsuit.
ESPN noted that this isn’t the first time that Dolan and Madison Square Garden, for which he serves as chairman, have been taken to court on sexual harassment charges. In 2007, they were hit with $11.6 million in punitive damages after a Knicks executive sued over sexual harassment.
The settlement came as part of a lawsuit brought by former Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders who sued the team, the arena, and Knicks coach Isiah Thomas.
The Browne Sanders suit claimed that Isiah Thomas started sexually harassed her right after the Knicks hired him in 2003. It further claimed that she was later fired in retaliation for her complaints about the alleged harassment.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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