Judge sides with MSG against Oakley, says former Knick couldn't prove he was assaulted at game
- A federal judge ruled in favor of Madison Square Garden in Charles Oakley’s long-running lawsuit over his removal from a 2017 Knicks game.
- Judge Richard J. Sullivan said Oakley had produced no evidence that MSG security guards assaulted him.
- Oakley had been arrested after an altercation with security while sitting near team owner James Dolan during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Oakley’s other claims against MSG had already been dismissed in 2020, leaving only the assault-and-battery claim after an appeal.
- MSG said the case had been dismissed in full for the third time and said it planned legal action against Oakley’s lawyer.
- Oakley’s lawyer said the court’s ruling was disappointing and that he hoped the Second Circuit would send the case to a jury.
A federal judge has ruled for Madison Square Garden in Charles Oakley’s lawsuit over his removal from a Knicks game in 2017. Judge Richard J. Sullivan said Oakley had not shown that MSG security guards assaulted him during the incident.
Oakley was handcuffed and arrested after a confrontation with security while seated near team owner James Dolan during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Most of Oakley’s claims against MSG had already been dismissed in 2020, and the assault-and-battery claim was the only one that remained after appeal.
In his ruling, Sullivan said the record, including video evidence and witness testimony, showed Oakley had a chance to leave and that he used physical violence instead. He also wrote that no rational jury could find that Oakley reasonably feared wrongful physical contact.
MSG said the claims had now been dismissed in their entirety for the third time. Oakley’s lawyer said the ruling was disappointing and said he hoped the Second Circuit would allow the case to go to a jury.
法官支持麦迪逊广场花园，称前尼克斯球员奥克利未能证明自己在比赛中遭到袭击
联邦法官裁定麦迪逊广场花园在查尔斯·奥克利就其2017年被赶出尼克斯比赛一事提起的诉讼中胜诉。法官理查德·J·沙利文表示，奥克利没有证明自己遭到了MSG安保人员的袭击。
案情显示，奥克利在尼克斯对洛杉矶快船的比赛中，坐在球队老板詹姆斯·多兰附近时与安保发生冲突，随后被铐上并逮捕。奥克利针对MSG的多数诉求已在2020年被驳回，上诉后只剩殴打与攻击指控。
沙利文在裁定中称，视频证据和证人证词表明，奥克利有机会离开现场，反而动用了肢体暴力。他还写道，任何理性陪审团都无法认定奥克利曾合理担心自己会遭到不当身体接触。
MSG表示，这些指控现在已经是第三次被法院全部驳回。奥克利的律师则表示结果令人失望，并希望第二巡回上诉法院能让案件交由陪审团审理。