Sphere CEO James Dolan Sexually Assaulted, Trafficked Masseuse, Litigation Claims

The CEO of Sphere Entertainment, which has a venue in Las Vegas, was accused Tuesday of the sex trafficking and repeated sex assault of a young woman who worked as a masseuse.

 Harvey Weinstein, left and James Dolan
Harvey Weinstein, left, and James Dolan, at a social occasion. The two are named as defendants in a lawsuit which claims they sexually assaulted a woman. (Image: Getty Images)

On Tuesday, the victim, Kellye Croft, filed a sensational lawsuit in California federal court. It claims Sphere CEO James Dolan and the embattled former film producer, Harvey Weinstein, were involved in the sex-capades.

Croft, a licensed massage therapist who worked for the Eagles rock band, gave Dolan a massage when the two were on a concert tour in 2013. Dolan then was part of a band, JD & The Straight Shot, which opened for the Eagles.

The massage was not particularly troublesome, until Croft tried to end it. Dolan treated Croft’s “resistance as part of a challenge or a game,” the suit claims.

Dolan then “grabbed Ms. Croft’s hands, dragging her to a couch in the same room and forcing her hands between his knees as he sat down… Dolan was extremely assertive, and pressured Ms. Croft into unwanted sexual intercourse with him.”

Later on the concert tour, Croft often was called to Dolan’s room.

On each of these occasions, Dolan made unwelcome advances toward Ms. Croft, and she felt obligated to submit to sex with him,” the suit said.

In 2014, Croft again joined the tour in Los Angeles. Dolan allegedly trafficked her.

While in California, Croft returned to a hotel to find Weinstein in the building.

While in his hotel suite, Weinstein tried “to intimidate Ms. Croft into giving him a naked massage on his bed, at one point physically preventing her from leaving his room.”

Weinstein followed Croft to her room, and sexually assaulted her, the suit claims.

Suffered Trauma

Attorney Douglas H. Wigdor is one of the lawyers representing Croft. In a statement provided by his office, Croft said,

“I have suffered so profoundly because of what James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein did to me years ago, and it was not an easy decision to come forward and seek justice.  But for me, to truly address my trauma, I need to seek accountability.”

James Dolan manipulated me, brought me to California to abuse me, and then set me up for a vicious attack by Weinstein.  My hope is that my lawsuit will force Dolan to acknowledge what he did to me and to take responsibility for the harm he has caused.”

Croft is seeking monetary damages in a jury trial.

Claims Without Merit

In a statement given to Casino.org on Wednesday, Dolan’s attorney, E. Danya Perry, said, “There is absolutely no merit to any of the allegations against Mr. Dolan.”

Kellye Croft and James Dolan had a friendship. The references to Harvey Weinstein are simply meant to inflame and appear to be plagiarized from prior cases against Mr. Weinstein. These claims reflect an act of retaliation by an attorney who has brought multiple cases against Mr. Dolan and has not won, and cannot win, a judgment against him. Mr. Dolan always believed Ms. Croft to be a good person and is surprised she would agree to these claims. Bottom line, this is not a he said/she said matter and there is compelling evidence to back up our position.”

Jennifer Bonjean, an attorney representing Weinstein, who is in prison, said he “vehemently denies these meritless allegations,” CNN reported.

Dolan is also the chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports, the group that manages the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

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Missouri Slot-Like Gaming Devices Lead to More Litigation

Lawsuits are piling up against Missouri video gaming machine company Torch Electronics. The newest one is from TNT Amusements which claims the slot machine-like devices are illegal and hurt its bottom line.

An example of a no-chance gaming device
An example of a no-chance gaming device, pictured above. Such devices are leading to litigation in Missouri. (Image: Missouri Independent)

TNT alleges Torch violates state consumer law and federal criminal statutes, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. TNT also claims Torch is taking part in fraud.

Torch does not have a Missouri gaming license and does not operate its amusement devices in a casino,” the lawsuit stated, according to the news report.

“Businesses have limited floor space and every spot taken up by an illegal Torch device is a spot taken away from a legal amusement device such as those offered by TNT.”

The 56-page litigation was filed last week in Missouri’s Eastern District court. It seeks treble damages.

TNT provides amusement games and is owned by Jim Turntine.

The same company previously filed a lawsuit against Torch in 2019. Back then, TNT attempted to get Torch to remove its gaming machines at a truck stop. So far, that litigation was unsuccessful.

Class Action Lawsuit

Earlier this month, another lawsuit was filed in federal court against Torch for players who lost money while using the company’s devices. It could become a class action lawsuit and represent many disgruntled players.

It is really so cruel to people who have gambling problems to place them in these situations,” Joe Jacobson, the attorney who filed the litigation, told the Missouri Independent newspaper.

“It is like being a cocaine addict and everywhere you go, there are lines of coke sitting on bar tops.”

Torch gaming devices are found in many convenience stores and truck stops in the state. Torch terminals resemble slot machines. A player puts in money, selects a game to play, and then selects a wager, the Post-Dispatch explained in a report. Winners get paid by a cashier at the business where terminals are located.

Missouri is now debating the legalization of sports betting. But some in the legislature want to see a video gambling bill enacted that would clearly regulate the devices provided by Torch. State officials have left it up to local prosecutors whether to litigate the use of the Torch machines.

So far, there was only one successful Missouri prosecution of the Torch devices. It took place in Platte County. Those gaming machines were seized and destroyed.

Torch Electronics has responded its devices are legal under state law because players are given the chance to see the outcome of the game before they continue, the Independent reported.

No-Chance Games

Torch further contends its gaming machines are legal because there is no “element of chance,” according to the Post-Dispatch.

Company officials further say their machines “fall outside the definition of a ‘gambling device’ under Missouri law,” the Post-Dispatch reported. They call them “no-chance game machines.”

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