Former New York Knicks great Charles Oakley will open a civil lawsuit in response to his altercation with Madison Square Garden security last season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ian Begley.
Charles Oakley to file civil lawsuit in response to MSG arrest, per report
Oakley was arrested after a February run-in with MSG security.
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Oakley’s attorney, Alex Spiro, told ESPN last month that they would explore “all civil remedies” following the incident. It is not yet clear if the lawsuit will specifically target Knicks owner James Dolan or the Madison Square Garden Company, per ESPN.
Oakley, 53, was arrested during a Feb. 8 matchup between the Knicks and Clippers after he engaged in a shoving match with MSG security. He was subsequently removed from his front-row seat, brought to the ground, and eventually placed in handcuffs. The security was sent by Knicks’ and Madison Square Garden Company owner James Dolan, who suggested the former New York great was inebriated, shouting in his direction.
Oakley was later charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of criminal trespass. He eventually accepted a deal that dropped his criminal charges in exchange for his steering clear of trouble for six months and a one-year ban from Madison Square Garden.
Oakley’s run-in at Madison Square Garden was the culmination of a years-long beef with Dolan, a beef that included harsh public criticism of a Knicks franchise he scratched and clawed for for a decade. It continued after the altercation, with Dolan calling Oakley’s statements “pure fiction” and appearing on ESPN radio to insinuate Oakley was battling an alcohol addiction.
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