By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 31 – Following the ejection of former Knick Charles Oakley from Madison Square Garden by security guards who had just conferred by James Dolan, a lawsuit is still proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Back on December 22, 2020 Judge Richard J. Sullivan held arguments. Inner City Press live tweeted them here
Jump cut to November 20, 2024 after remand from the Second Circuit, a hearing on the loss of Oakley's text message, thread
On April 14 Judge Sullivan ruled 'Mastro may continue to represent MSG, so long as he does not participate at the Mayor’s Office in any matter involving MSG.'"Full Order on Patreon here
On April 25, after a hearing Inner City Press covered, this: "Oakley's motion to strike the six witness declarations and preclude MSG from relying on those witnesses is DENIED, as is Oakley's request to reopen discovery and depose these witnesses. (Signed by Judge Richard J. Sullivan Sitting by Designation on 4/25/2025)."
On October 31, 2025 Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky ruled that Oakley must pay on "MOTION for Attorney Fees and costs. filed by MSG Networks, Inc., Sphere Entertainment Group, LLC, Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. For the reasons set forth above, Defendant's Fee Motion is GRANTED IN PART, in that Plaintiff is ORDERED to pay $642,337.65 in attorneys' fees and costs to Defendant, consisting of $604,315.15 in attorneys' fees and $38,022.50 in costs, within 21 days of the date of this order."
More on X for Subscribers here and Substack here
The case is Oakley v. Dolan et al., 17-cv-6903 (Sullivan / Tarnofsky)
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
