A federal choose has sided with Madison Sq. Backyard in its long-running authorized dispute with former New York Knicks All-Star Charles Oakley, ruling that Oakley failed to supply proof that he was assaulted by MSG safety guards throughout his removing from a 2017 recreation, per Associated Press.
Decide Richard J. Sullivan of the Southern District of New York dominated Friday that Oakley had not established his assault-and-battery declare. The case stems from an altercation throughout a Knicks recreation towards the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 8, 2017, when Oakley was handcuffed and arrested after an incident involving safety close to Knicks proprietor James Dolan.
Oakley initially introduced a number of claims towards MSG, however these claims had been dismissed in February 2020. After an attraction, the assault-and-battery declare remained energetic, finally resulting in Sullivan’s newest ruling.
The choose cited video proof from a number of angles and witness testimony in concluding that Oakley had not been subjected to extreme drive. Sullivan wrote that the proof confirmed Oakley had an affordable alternative to go away the sector however as an alternative engaged in bodily violence, whereas additionally discovering that Oakley was by no means pushed to the bottom.
Sullivan additional decided that the proof didn’t assist Oakley’s rivalry that MSG safety deliberately created an affordable worry of illegal bodily contact. The ruling due to this fact eradicated the remaining declare towards Madison Sq. Backyard.
MSG responded by saying Oakley’s claims had now been dismissed of their entirety for the third time. The group additionally stated it was pursuing authorized motion towards Oakley’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, and his legislation agency over what MSG characterised as years of frivolous litigation.
Wigdor disputed that characterization and stated Oakley’s authorized crew believes conflicting accounts of the incident stay. He stated the agency hopes the Second Circuit will once more ship the case again for a jury trial.
The dispute has remained linked to Oakley’s relationship with the Knicks. Oakley was a key member of New York’s groups throughout the Nineties, averaging 10.4 factors and 9.2 rebounds over his 10 seasons with the franchise and serving to the Knicks attain the 1994 NBA Finals.
His absence from Madison Sq. Backyard has continued via a significant resurgence for the franchise. New York completed the 2025-26 common season 53-29, third within the Japanese Convention, earlier than sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 within the Japanese Convention finals.
The Knicks then defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 within the NBA Finals, successful their first championship since 1973. Oakley remained one of many outstanding former Knicks figures absent from MSG throughout that postseason run.
The newest ruling doesn’t finish Oakley’s effort to problem the result. Wigdor indicated that an attraction to the Second Circuit stays attainable, leaving the nine-year authorized dispute probably headed for an additional stage.
