Cablevision’s Madison Square Garden and chairman James Dolan must pay punitive damages, a New York jury ruled Tuesday in a harassment suit filed by former New York Knicks executive Anucha Browne Sanders.
While the U.S. District Court jury found that Knicks coach Isiah Thomas sexually harassed Sanders, Thomas won’t have to pay punitive damages, the Associated Press reported.
Sanders, who was fired by the Knicks in 2006, later sued Thomas and MSG for $10 million.
Arguments will begin Tuesday afternoon to determine punitive damages in the case.
MSG and Thomas both said they plan to appeal.
“We believe that the jury’s decision was incorrect and plan to vigorously appeal the verdict,” MSG said in a prepared statement Tuesday. “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.”
Thomas maintained that he is innocent. “I did not do the things she [Sanders] accused me in this courtroom of doing,” Thomas said outside the Manhattan courtroom after the verdict. “I am extremely disappointed that the jury could not see the facts in this case. I will appeal and I remain confident in the man that I am and what I stand for and the family that I have.”
