Dolan Wanted MSG Statement To Call Browne Sanders A Liar

Dolan Wanted To Call Former Exec A Liar In  Statement Following Harassment Suit Settlement

The NBA on Monday "approved a 'soft' version" of MSG's statement following the company's $11.5M settlement with Anucha Browne Sanders in her sexual harassment lawsuit, but MSG Chair James Dolan "insisted on adding a line saying, 'the outcome was a travesty of justice,'" according to a source cited by Lawrence & Zambito of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.  The source said of the statement issued to reporters, "[Dolan] still didn't think it was enough.  He wanted to take it even further by calling her a liar."  With MSG facing "tomorrow's deadline on how much [Federal Court Judge Gerard] Lynch should add to the original" $11.6M to Browne Sanders, NBA Commissioner David Stern "told Dolan the time to cut the check was before Lynch ruled."  The source said there were "a lot of conversations between Stern and Dolan over the last few weeks, with Stern insisting" MSG settle (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/12).

IT'S SETTLED: Stern yesterday released the following statement in connection with the settlement: "The NBA is pleased that the parties have agreed to a settlement that dismisses the litigation. I had previously determined not to consider any action against the Knicks while the litigation was still pending, which, with appeals, could have been several years. In light of the settlement, which I strongly supported, I have decided to take no further action. Instead, we are going to continue to focus our attention on a league-wide program ensuring that all teams have appropriate policies, clearly communicated to their employees, focusing on respect in the workplace including the prohibition of sexual harassment" (THE DAILY).