Sex trafficking suit against MSG owner James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein dismissed
A lawsuit accusing Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan of sexually assaulting a young masseuse — then setting her up to be harassed by disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein — has been dismissed by a California federal judge.Kellye Croft, 38, filed a lawsuit in January alleging that Dolan, 69, pressured her into having sex in 2013 when she was working as a licensed massage therapist on a tour for The Eagles.Dolan’s band, JD and the Straight Shot, was opening for the classic rock band when he allegedly used his position of influence to coerce Croft, then 27, into sex, the lawsuit states.Croft claimed she felt “disgusted and terrified” but submitted to sex because of Dolan’s position.The MSG owner was 58 at the time.
The masseuse also accused Dolan of sex trafficking, alleging that the businessman flew her to Los Angeles for the tour, despite almost no tour members signing up for massage appointments.While staying in a hotel allegedly paid for by Dolan, Croft claimed that he orchestrated a meeting with Weinstein.The lawsuit claimed that Weinstein approached her and introduced himself as a friend of Dolan’s before inquiring if she would want to work as a masseuse on his movie sets.
The now-imprisoned producer then allegedly demanded a massage in his hotel room — a proposition Croft denied, according to the suit.“You know, Jim and I are best friends,” Weinstein allegedly told her.“He’s going to be very disappointed you led me on.
This won’t look good for you.”However, in an order signed Tuesday, District Court Judge Percy Anderson said Croft’s lawsuit did not meet the legal standard for sex trafficking and dismissed the charge without prejudice — meaning the case could be refiled later.Judge Anderson also dismissed the sexual assault claims and ordered Croft to pay legal costs for the defendants. “We are very pleased with the dismissal of the lawsuit, which was a malicious attempt to assert horrific allegations by an attorne...