Charles Oakley Files Civil Lawsuit Over Madison Square Garden Incident
Charles Oakley is not done feuding with New York Knicks owner James Dolan. According to New York Post, the Knicks legend has filed a civil suit against Dolan, Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Sports & Entertainment over the February incident at MSG.
If you recall, Oakley clashed with security guards while he was watching the game and was thrown out and arrested on assault and aggravated harassment charges. The incident was recorded on live TV and went viral on the internet.
In his complaint, Oakley accuses Dolan of defamation by publicly accusing him of committing assault and stating publicly that he suffers from alcoholism. The 53-year-old basketball veteran also claims that Dolan has “resentment for him because he would ‘not kiss the ring’ of the heir to the Madison Square Garden empire and that his petty insecurities are driven by his own personal demons.”
In a statement, the Madison Square Garden Company denied Oakley’s allegations.
“This is a frivolous lawsuit and nothing more than another attempt by Mr. Oakley to garner attention,” reads the statement. “We will deal with this accordingly.
Oakley is seeking punitive damages for emotional distress, mental anguish and damages to his reputation. He also wants compensation for attorney fees that he will incur.
Oakley's lawsuit comes a month after he accepted a plea deal over the fight. He was ordered to stay out of trouble for six months, after which his charges will be dismissed and sealed. He was also ordered to stay away from Madison Square Garden for good.