Judge sides with MSG against Oakley, says the former Knick couldn't prove he was assaulted at game

A judge has ruled in favor of Madison Square Garden (MSG) in its legal dispute with former New York Knicks player Charles Oakley, stating that Oakley failed to prove he was assaulted during a game in 2017. According to prosecutors, Oakley was handcuffed and arrested after an altercation with security while sitting near MSG owner James Dolan.

Initial claims against MSG, which were dismissed in February 2020, persisted after an appeal. However, Judge Richard J. Sullivan of the Southern District of New York ruled that Oakley "has produced no evidence to support his claim that he was assaulted by MSG security guards." MSG cited video evidence and prior testimony that Oakley was not assaulted, asserting that Oakley's attorneys had pursued claims they knew to be false for over nine years.

The judge noted that multiple videos and testimony from witnesses, including Oakley, demonstrated that Oakley had a reasonable chance to leave the arena and instead resorted to physical violence, with no indication of MSG attempting to incite fear. Oakley, a prominent Knicks player in the 1990s, has avoided MSG during the team's playoff runs, including their recent NBA championship victory.

MSG expressed disappointment in the judge's decision, alleging that Oakley's legal team had pursued "frivolous litigation" and vowed to hold them accountable. Douglas Wigdor, Oakley's attorney, contended that conflicting accounts exist and called for a jury trial.