Thomas, MSG, guilty of sexual harrassment
| 7
|
A jury today, in what the judge called an "imminently reasonable" verdict, ruled that MSG and Isiah Thomas were guilty of harrassing Anucha Browne Simmons. The jury denied punitive damages from Thomas, but allowed them from MSG.
Among Ms. Simmons complaints were improper sexual advances and crude language from Thomas. She claimed that when she complained about it, she was fired by MSG.
The most notable moment of the trial was when General Manager, Coach and basketball legend Isiah Thomas admitting to calling Ms. Simmons "Bitch" and "Ho." Thomas famously said that it was okay for a black man to call a black woman "bitch" and "ho." It appears that a jury disagrees and Thomas, and the Knicks will now have to pay for it.
Ms. Simmons, a well-paid executive, was seeking $10 million in damages. The jury will convene, likely tomorow, to determine the amount of punitice damages MSG will have to pay.
This is a devestating day for the Knicks franchise. The alst few years have been a culture of losing. However, this verdict suggests that it was not just a culture of losing. As Anucha Browne Simmons said, it was a culture of " nepotism, sexism, crude remarks and crass language."
UPDATE: MSG is on the hook for the full $11.6 Million verdict. Based on the actions of Isiah Thomas, MSG and James Dolan, MSG was found liable for creating a hostile work environment and retaliating against Browne Sanders. Dolan himself was found liable for over $3 million
