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Knicks president Thomas faces lawsuit
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, January 25, 2006 | No comments posted.
NEW YORK - New York Knicks team president Isiah Thomas is accused of sexual harassment and discrimination by one of the team's former front-office employees in a federal lawsuit.
Anucha Browne Sanders claims Thomas made unwanted sexual advances toward her and refused to stop, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan. Thomas and Madison Square Garden are listed as the defendants in the lawsuit, which charges them with sex discrimination and retaliation.
According to the lawsuit, the 43-year-old Browne Sanders sought assistance from her supervisor, Steve Mills, the president of Madison Square Garden Sports, but said Mills didn't do anything about the situation.
Browne Sanders, who had been with the team since 2000, claims she was fired as the Knicks' senior vice president of marketing and business operations last week as a result of her complaints.
The lawsuit also alleges that Thomas told Browne Sanders he was pushing for more home games at noon on Sundays. His plan, according to Browne Sanders, was to have opposing players go to certain clubs, including strip clubs, that Thomas had connections with on Saturday nights and get them drunk so they would be sluggish for the game the next day.
Ron Green, a lawyer for Madison Square Garden, told the New York Times that the lawsuit is “fabricated and outrageous.” He said in a story for Wednesday's editions that Browne Sanders was fired “because of an inability to fulfill professional responsibilities,” and said she is seeking “a financial windfall.”
Lawyers for Thomas, Peter Parcher and Sue Ellen Eisenberg, called the lawsuit an attempt to make money and accused her of demanding $6 million upon her departure, more than 20 times her salary.
Browne Sanders said the problems began shortly after Thomas joined the Knicks in December 2003, and she repeatedly complained to management about his inappropriate behavior.
In court documents, Browne Sanders said Thomas often berated her, and made crude comments about her to Knicks officials, telling them not to listen to any of her directions. Point guard Stephon Marbury also is accused of acting in a hostile way toward her as a result.
Browne Sanders said Thomas' behavior soon became sexually charged, saying he told her he was “very attracted” to her and “in love” with her and tried to kiss her. She charges that last month, he hugged and tried to kiss her, and when she pulled away, he said, “What, I can't get any love from you today?”
Browne Sanders said she met with a human resources management consultant hired by MSG twice last year, and told the consultant about Thomas' conduct. After Browne Sanders sought legal counsel last November, MSG launched its own investigation but told her not to come to work for three weeks. She was fired last Thursday when MSG said her claims couldn't be substantiated.
Browne Sanders, the team's chief marketing officer, graduated from Northwestern as the Big Ten's women career scoring leader and was a two-time conference player of the year. She was the school's athlete of the decade for the 1980s.
According to the team's media guide, Browne Sanders is married with three children, and resides in New Jersey.
Anucha Browne Sanders claims Thomas made unwanted sexual advances toward her and refused to stop, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan. Thomas and Madison Square Garden are listed as the defendants in the lawsuit, which charges them with sex discrimination and retaliation.
According to the lawsuit, the 43-year-old Browne Sanders sought assistance from her supervisor, Steve Mills, the president of Madison Square Garden Sports, but said Mills didn't do anything about the situation.
Browne Sanders, who had been with the team since 2000, claims she was fired as the Knicks' senior vice president of marketing and business operations last week as a result of her complaints.
The lawsuit also alleges that Thomas told Browne Sanders he was pushing for more home games at noon on Sundays. His plan, according to Browne Sanders, was to have opposing players go to certain clubs, including strip clubs, that Thomas had connections with on Saturday nights and get them drunk so they would be sluggish for the game the next day.
Ron Green, a lawyer for Madison Square Garden, told the New York Times that the lawsuit is “fabricated and outrageous.” He said in a story for Wednesday's editions that Browne Sanders was fired “because of an inability to fulfill professional responsibilities,” and said she is seeking “a financial windfall.”
Lawyers for Thomas, Peter Parcher and Sue Ellen Eisenberg, called the lawsuit an attempt to make money and accused her of demanding $6 million upon her departure, more than 20 times her salary.
Browne Sanders said the problems began shortly after Thomas joined the Knicks in December 2003, and she repeatedly complained to management about his inappropriate behavior.
In court documents, Browne Sanders said Thomas often berated her, and made crude comments about her to Knicks officials, telling them not to listen to any of her directions. Point guard Stephon Marbury also is accused of acting in a hostile way toward her as a result.
Browne Sanders said Thomas' behavior soon became sexually charged, saying he told her he was “very attracted” to her and “in love” with her and tried to kiss her. She charges that last month, he hugged and tried to kiss her, and when she pulled away, he said, “What, I can't get any love from you today?”
Browne Sanders said she met with a human resources management consultant hired by MSG twice last year, and told the consultant about Thomas' conduct. After Browne Sanders sought legal counsel last November, MSG launched its own investigation but told her not to come to work for three weeks. She was fired last Thursday when MSG said her claims couldn't be substantiated.
Browne Sanders, the team's chief marketing officer, graduated from Northwestern as the Big Ten's women career scoring leader and was a two-time conference player of the year. She was the school's athlete of the decade for the 1980s.
According to the team's media guide, Browne Sanders is married with three children, and resides in New Jersey.
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