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New York Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan has been hit with allegations of sexual assault and trafficking in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
A masseuse, Kellye Croft, says Dolan worked alongside Harvey Weinstein to manipulate her into a sexual relationship in 2013.
At the time, according to the complaint obtained by Fox News Digital, Croft had been the main massage therapist for Glenn Frey of The Eagles, and Dolan was a source of funding for their concert tour that year. Dolan's own band, JD & The Straight Shot, opened for the legendary rock band throughout the tour.
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James L. Dolan attends the 5th Annual Little Steven's Policeman's Ball at Mandarin Oriental New York on Dec. 20, 2019, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
During the tour, Croft performed a massage on Dolan, but the suit says Dolan "pulled Ms. Craft towards him." Craft "tried to push [him] away, stating that she was very uncomfortable and that she took her job as a masseuse very seriously and that she wanted to remain professional."
But Dolan allegedly "[came] on even stronger" by "dragging her to a couch… and forcing her hands between his knees" before "pressur[ing] Ms. Croft into unwanted sexual intercourse with him."
Dolan allegedly continued to make "unwelcome advances" to Croft, who "felt obliged to submit to sex with him."
Croft was then flown out to California for what the suit says she believed was more work, but "in reality, Ms. Croft was flown out to Los Angeles for the purposes of engaging in unwanted sexual acts with Dolan."
During this trip, Croft then met Weinstein, a "buddy" of Dolan's, and the suit says he, too, sexually assaulted her after he demanded a massage and forced himself into Croft's hotel room.
Producer Harvey Weinstein attends the Film Lounge party for "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" party, Sept. 7, 2008, in Toronto, Canada. (Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic)
When Croft returned home, the suit says she would have "panic attacks" while working as a massage therapist and "turned to drugs and alcohol."
"There is absolutely no merit to any of the allegations against Mr. Dolan," Dolan's attorney, Danya Perry, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Kellye Croft and James Dolan had a friendship. The references to Harvey Weinstein are simply meant to inflame and appear to be plagiarized from prior cases against Mr. Weinstein. These claims reflect an act of retaliation by an attorney who has brought multiple cases against Mr. Dolan and has not, and cannot, win a judgement (sic) against him. Mr. Dolan always believed Ms. Croft to be a good person and is surprised she would agree to these claims. Bottom line, this is not a he said/she said matter and there is compelling evidence to back up our position. We look forward to proving that in court."
New York Knicks owner James L. Dolan sits courtside during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 2, 2022, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
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Dolan is the son of Charles, the founder of Cablevision and HBO – he has overseen the day-to-day operations of Madison Square Garden since 1997.
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