A federal judge has ruled that former New York Knicks player Charles Oakley did not prove he was assaulted by Madison Square Garden security during his 2017 ejection from the arena. The decision on Friday sided with the company and owner James Dolan in the prolonged legal dispute.
Oakley, 62, was handcuffed and arrested after an altercation with security while attending a game. He initially filed several claims against MSG, most of which were dismissed in February 2020. Following an appeal, his assault-and-battery claim remained, but Judge Richard J. Sullivan of the Southern District of New York found that Oakley "has produced no evidence to support his claim that he was assaulted by MSG security guards."
MSG presented video evidence and prior testimony suggesting Oakley was not assaulted. In a statement, MSG said, "For more than nine years, Mr. Oakley's lawyers have pursued claims they knew were false. Those claims have now been dismissed by the Court in their entirety — for the third time." The company also stated it is pursuing legal action against Oakley's law firm for "frivolous litigation and their blatant abuse of the judicial system."
Oakley, a beloved Knicks forward in the 1990s, has remained absent from Madison Square Garden during the team's recent playoff appearances. His removal from the 2017 game was a notable event, but Sullivan's ruling stated Oakley had not proven excessive force was used.
Oakley's legal team expressed disappointment with the ruling. "We believe there are conflicting accounts and only a jury can decide what exactly happened," wrote attorney Douglas Wigdor in an email. "We are hopeful that the Second Circuit will agree for a third time and remand the case for an immediate jury trial."
Efforts by Michael Jordan and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to mediate the dispute between Oakley and Dolan in the weeks following the ejection were unsuccessful. Silver, speaking at his annual NBA Finals press conference in 2017, described the situation as "unfortunate for the NBA" and stated his efforts to broker peace were unsuccessful, noting the matter was in litigation.
According to court filings from MSG, Oakley was asked to leave due to disruptive behavior. He was pictured on the floor with security guards during the incident. Dolan had accused Oakley of having a drinking problem, an accusation Oakley denied. Oakley was cleared of misdemeanor assault charges in 2018. He had stated he would not return to MSG until Dolan issued an apology, asserting that Dolan had made a mistake.
