Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Isiah Thomas, MSG Guilty of Sexual Harassment<br/>Jury Says MSG Should Pay $11.6 Million in Damages
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 2, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 2, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Once again people will wonder about the decision-making of the folks in the Knicks organization: A jury has found Knicks president and coach Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden liable on six counts of sexual harassment. The charges were brought against Thomas and MSG by former marketing vice-president Anucha Browne Sanders, who alleged that Thomas acted inappropriately (swearing, making advances) and that management dismissed her complaints before firing her because of her complaints. The Thomas and the Knicks organization denied the hostile environment and said that Browne Sanders was fired because she was not competent.
Browne Sanders was looking for $10 million in damages and for her $260,000/year job back. The jury found that Thomas did not have to pay punitive damages, but that MSG did. 1010WINS reports that the judge, U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch, who had previously urged the two sides to settle the case, called the verdict "eminently reasonable." The jury will hear arguments regarding punitive damages later.
The New Yorker's Nick Paumgarten has a Talk of the Town piece that delves into Knicks owner James Dolan's moment on the witness stand: "He wore a suit, and an air of something approaching self-containment, if not quite self-command."
Update: Newsday reports that it took the jury less than an hour to determine Madison Square Garden should pay Browne Sanders a total of $11.6 million in damages. In fact, James Dolan has to personally pay $3 million of the settlement. MSG's statement after the verdict was, "We believe that the jury's decision was incorrect and plan to vigorously appeal the verdict. We look forward to presenting our arguments to an appeals court, and believe they will agree that no sexual harassment took place and MSG acted properly."
After the verdict was read, Thomas said he would appeal and told the press, "I want to say it as loud as I possibly can. I am innocent, very innocent."
Tagged
anucha Browne sanders
basketball
Browne Sanders
court
District
environment
found
isiah thomas
james dolan
knicks
madison square
madison square garden
msg
new yorker
News: NYC
once
people
the new yorker
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Person found dead with stab wounds in Queens building, NYPD says
Police hadn't yet named and suspects or identified the victim Friday.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 6, 2026 at 8:34 p.m. ET
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Amtrak's Penn Station plan could funnel taxpayer money to new venue for James Dolan
The federal government's plan to rebuild Penn Station would require the purchase of a theater attached to the west side of Madison Square Garden.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Intoxicated Queens driver killed baby after running stop sign, indictment says
By
Giulia Heyward
Man arrested in NYC on accusations of sexual assault, rape on Cape Cod, officials said
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Service upgrade coming to On The Way: An hour-long radio show on all things NYC transit
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .