October 2, 2007
Isiah Thomas, MSG Guilty of Sexual Harassment
Jury Says MSG Should Pay $11.6 Million in Damages
Once again people will wonder about the decision-making of the folks in the Knicks organization: A jury has found Knicks president and coach Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden liable on six counts of sexual harassment. The charges were brought against Thomas and MSG by former marketing vice-president Anucha Browne Sanders, who alleged that Thomas acted inappropriately (swearing, making advances) and that management dismissed her complaints before firing her because of her complaints. The Thomas and the Knicks organization denied the hostile environment and said that Browne Sanders was fired because she was not competent.
Browne Sanders was looking for $10 million in damages and for her $260,000/year job back. The jury found that Thomas did not have to pay punitive damages, but that MSG did. 1010WINS reports that the judge, U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch, who had previously urged the two sides to settle the case, called the verdict "eminently reasonable." The jury will hear arguments regarding punitive damages later.
The New Yorker's Nick Paumgarten has a Talk of the Town piece that delves into Knicks owner James Dolan's moment on the witness stand: "He wore a suit, and an air of something approaching self-containment, if not quite self-command."
Update: Newsday reports that it took the jury less than an hour to determine Madison Square Garden should pay Browne Sanders a total of $11.6 million in damages. In fact, James Dolan has to personally pay $3 million of the settlement. MSG's statement after the verdict was, "We believe that the jury's decision was incorrect and plan to vigorously appeal the verdict. We look forward to presenting our arguments to an appeals court, and believe they will agree that no sexual harassment took place and MSG acted properly."
After the verdict was read, Thomas said he would appeal and told the press, "I want to say it as loud as I possibly can. I am innocent, very innocent."
|
these harassment suits are usually crap – if she thought he was hot, it would be called 'flirting' instead.
This is actually a great day for Knicks fans since this gives David Stern a clear reason to start pressuring Dolan out of his ownership. A sports commissioner has every right to push out an owner that is detrimental to a team and the league as a whole. A high-profile guilty verdict in a sexual harrasment trial is an embarrassment to the NBA.
No one cares about the knicks.
What about that slimebag trying to sue Apple because they lowered the price on Ipods. You're "hipster" readership cares more about that than some ignorant blacks (as opposed to the more gentle, artistic ones) throwing a ball.
Copy edit, anyone? "Eminently reasonable," is what the judge said. Imminently means soon.
1) isnt isiah gay?
2) another frivolous lawsuit
Dolan & Co. are arrogant buffoons. They should have settled this out of court long ago. Instead, Dolan & Co. let their dirty laundry air in public. It's clear that their attitude is that she is a dumb b*tch troublemaker. Hope the jury awards a big settlement this afternoon.
just get rid of thomas, trade marbury and start from there. otherwise who wants to watch the knicks with those two losers.
So, should my season ticket money go directly to Browne Sanders?
Dolan must go.
you know usually this guy would have had his ass handed to him and carried out of new york. Knowing James Dolan, he'll probably give Isiah Thomas a ten year extension and a 30 million dollar raise. I think the question everybody should be asking is "how can I work for MSG? If I fuck up badly, I just get rewarded more!"
They should award her the Knicks franchise as compensation. The Knicks disparately need new owners.
#2- you don't seem to understand. The league loves Dolan cause he pays the highest luxury tax and give money to all the poor teams. The Knicks don't lose money at all cause they have a license to print money from all the Goldman Sachs investment firms that pay top dollar for status ringside seats regardless if the team is doing well also since the Knicks are the only BBall club in town they still get sold out. It doesn't matter if the Knicks have stunk up the joint. They still make money and give money to other teams. If people were real knicks fans they wouldn't give a goddamn dime to that organization. I stopped being a fan 3 years ago. Just waiting for the Brooklyn NETS.
I always find it strange when people who sue their company ask for their job back. Is it just a token gesture? Could someone realistically return to work at that place without having an elephant in every room she walks in?
#13 for 260 grand a year? are you serious?
260 grand a year? She probably stole it.
I guess what I'm saying is that does she really think she wouldn't be shut out of every decision of any significance until she finds another job? But hey, I guess getting paid to sit in my office for 260K until I get recruited elsewhere and know that I couldn't be fired wouldn't be a bad gig.
GOOD! Justice is served.
Awesome!
now abusive idiots will thbk how much mony will cost the to be so free with use of degrading language in work enviromnets= 7 MILLIONS!
I just do not understand what Isiah Thomas hold over James Dolan is? Does he have naked pictures of him or something? I don't think James dolan is that stupid to hang onto Isiah. Isiah is the worst GM in history. I just can't believe the things he has gotten away with. Remember where he used to stay under the underpass of the knick entrance and just stare intently at court and players regardless if the won or lost? I think he was hires just too look "hard and focused" and that's it. he doesn't have the brains or the motivational skills to actually coach. He's the Black Donald Trump.
The best part is that if she gest her job back , the dude has to swalow his tongue plus paying her millions.
yeah as frivoluos as the right of women to be treated with respect; frivoulous if you are a MORON, like Isiah Thomas!
Isiah just wanted a little lovin'. Can't he get some love?
Love? yeah that is the way to get love calling a woman bitch...how loving!
Just a little slap on the wrist for these boys. Maybe it will make them mind their manners in the future. Doubtful though.
I say his sentencing should include forcing him to play for his own awful, awful team.
UP THIS GUY
Firing someone who's suing you
Is an act that's imperial
And demonstrates you're certainly
CEO material.
Isn't being associated with the Knicks punishment enough?
The jury just played right into Thomas and Dolan's hands. They wanted this decision. They always make the right decision. They are still smiling and happy and everything.
until the appeals are over, she won't see a dime.
and any other appealed case can have an effect on her reward. ultimately it will be a judge who rewards her money, if any money at all.
also, if it's punitive damages, the money will be taxed, heavily.
she wants her job back to prove a point, not to work there. if she gets that, she will be paid until she resigns.
this jury is racist. Hello? it's part of a black man's culture to call women bitches. Now, if a white man did it then it would be harrassment.
these harassment suits are usually crap – if she thought he was hot, it would be called 'flirting' instead.
--wow, you are not smart. Lots of things are ok if they are welcome and not ok if they are not welcome. Duh. Shall I just walk into your home and help myself to something? After all, if you liked me, it wouldn't be stealing, it would be Christmas.
sexual harrassment was invented by lawyers
Don't miss your chance to see the Knicks in action this season, featuring new theme nights!
"Isiah Thomas's Let Me Rub Up On You Night"
"B*tch @ss 'Ho Night"
"Jim Dolan Explains Retaliation Night" and
"Stephon Marbury's 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car' Night"
All proceeds go to the Knicks Legal Defense Fund.
"this jury is racist. Hello? it's part of a black man's culture to call women bitches. Now, if a white man did it then it would be harrassment".
SUPER DUH!
that is the whole point on this case!
It is not acceptable for anybody to degrade other based upon sex! Accepting this behaivior will be ignoring this woman's rights.
The Dolans will most likely pay for this by raising ticket prices, and cable rates.
Never thought I'd say this, but thankfully I have Time Warner and not Cablevision. And hockey is for white trash only.
Zeke's a dud.
He should take care of his popcorn business, and stay far away from roundball.
Dolan's got the cash to do whatever he wants; this is only a speedbump for Fredo.
A slap on the wrist by the NBA commissioner ain't going to do squat.
As other posters say in other places, the Knicks high salaries over the cap generate penalty taxes that all the other NBA teams equally share in.
So keep partying, Jimmy D. The Sacramento Kings need your bucks. Milwaukee, too.
Hey, I'm calling Christine Cornell.
Do you have posting rights to her courtroom sketch material?
Hmmm, I'd say it's $250 per instance ...
ahhhhh! so you think if the players don't see their salary diminish the law suit wasn't fruitful?
This coment ONLY REFLECTS how dumb some males are, that only can see score boards as measurement on the health of society! go sports go! Making idiots by the thousands!
i bet they will settle for far less than this, if not an appeals judge wll not award even close to this amount.
It's the culture, stupid. As long as black men continue treating their women like hoes and byitches, which is most likely genetically predetermined, these people will continue to be in the rut they've been in. BTW, there was an interesting article in the op-ed pages of the Sunday NYT by a Professor Patterson (?) from Harvard. It's hard to believe that 1 in 3 black males in their 30s has been in prison....
Comments like no.41 make me happy that guest comments will soon be no more.
because of how simplists and monolitic they are?
the woman was awarded what she asked! justice was made!
in deed there are some idiotic comments !
Holy F*ck, I can't stop laughing at the "Get out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car" comment.
Now the song is stuck in my head.