Judge dismisses personal injury lawsuit against Knicks owners James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein

SAN FRANCISCO — A U.S. district judge has dismissed a woman's federal lawsuit alleging that New York Knicks owner James Dolan sexually abused her ten years ago and then framed her on imprisoned movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson on Tuesday dismissed the lawsuit filed in January by Kellye Croft in Los Angeles. Anderson said Croft failed to make a credible case that she was paid for sex under the federal Human Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

The judge also declined to hear their state, not federal, claims against Dolan for sexual assault and aiding and abetting sexual assault, and against Weinstein for sexual assault and attempted rape.

Croft's lawyers wrote on X that they disagree with the decision, saying it “misinterprets federal sex trafficking law and undermines critically important protections for sex trafficking victims,” ​​according to attorneys Meredith Firetog and Kevin Mintzer of Wigdor LLP.

The office of Dolan's attorney, E. Danya Perry, said in a statement Wednesday that the lawsuit was “a malicious attempt by an unscrupulous law firm to make horrific allegations.”

Weinstein's attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, but also denied Croft's claims at the time the lawsuit was filed in January.

According to the lawsuit, Croft was a licensed massage therapist working on an Eagles tour in 2013, during which Dolan's band JD and The Straight Shot was the opening act for the rock band. Dolan allegedly used his influence on the tour to repeatedly manipulate and pressure Croft to “submit to sex with him,” the lawsuit says. It is alleged that Dolan arranged a meeting between Croft and Weinstein, a friend of his, in a hotel elevator in early 2014. In her lawsuit, she claims that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in a hotel room.

The Associated Press typically does not name people who report sexual assault unless they come forward publicly or consent to their names being used, as Croft did.