Posted on 10/02/2007 9:01:47 AM PDT by SkyPilot
NEW YORK - A jury ruled Tuesday that New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas sexually harassed a former top team executive, subjecting her to unwanted advances and a barrage of verbal insults, but also ruled he does not have to pay punitive damages.
After an ugly, three-week trial, the ruling gives Thomas a partial victory in the $10 million lawsuit filed by Anucha Browne Sanders.
The jury did find that Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the woman, and ruled that she is entitled to punitive damages from MSG.
U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch called it an "imminently reasonable" verdict and said the jury will be asked to return later Tuesday to hear brief arguments on punitive damages.
The harassment verdict was widely expected after the jury sent a note to the judge Monday indicating that it believed Thomas and the other defendants, Madison Square Garden and MSG chairman James Dolan, sexually harassed Browne Sanders.
After the verdict, Browne Sanders hugged family members and friends gathered in the back of the courtroom.
Browne Sanders, fired from her $260,000 a year job in 2006, sued Thomas and Madison Square Garden. Her case presented the Garden as "Animal House" in sneakers, a place where nepotism, sexism, crude remarks and crass language were part of the culture.
The former Northwestern college basketball star characterized Thomas as a foul-mouthed lout who initially berated her as a "bitch" and a "ho" before his anger gave way to ardor, with Thomas making unwanted advances and encouraging her to visit him "off site."
Thomas, who was hired in December 2003, followed her to the stand and denied all her allegations. Attorneys for Thomas and the Garden also portrayed Browne Sanders as incompetent and unable to adapt once the former NBA star player arrived as the Knicks' president.
"That's not about sexual harassment," MSG attorney Ronald Green said in his closing argument. "That's about team politics."
He regularly referred to himself in the 3rd person.
A sure sign of an ecomaniac.
eco = ego
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Isiah and Anucha
I dunno. A lot of ecomaniacs are egomaniacs. That whole assumption that they can save the World all by themselves means the ain't quite right...
I guess it's always easier to rob some faceless corporation than an individual. Although, as far as I'm concerned, Isaiah Thomas must have hit his head on the backboard once too often.
He regularly referred to himself in the 3rd person.
A sure sign of an ecomaniac.
John123 thinks it is OK to talk about himself because John123 is very special.
When will he announce his campaign for the US Senate as a democrat? With this resume’ enhancement, he’s a lock.
Rare is the pro athlete (especially in basketball and football) who doesn't refer to himself in the 3rd person.
This was actually good for Zeke, providing him with a beard. I could have sworn that if anyone sued Zeke for sexual harassment, the name would be “Darnell” or “Michael.”
That would be the Dolan family, who also own Cablevision.
She forgot "bad basketball."
She looks like she wanted to hit the lawsuit lottery and live off it for the rest of her life. Or is it just me?
The best news to come out of the Pacer locker room is that he is an ex-coach.....then again maybe he learned all his smooth moves while coaching here.
It’s Coach Knight’s fault!
It’s Coach Knight’s fault!
This isn’t the first time he’s done something stupid like this. Celtics fans will remember from his playing days when he commented that if Larry Bird was black he’d only be considered a good basketball player but not great. If I remember correctly, it was during the playoffs and Larry just laughed it off. So, Thomas is a great player but, he’s not the brightest bulb on the tree.
I remember his kissing Magic Johnson, and thinking they were both bi sexual.
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