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sports Diamars 17 November 2020
Charles Oakley wins right to jury decision on assault claim

(AP) — A jury can decide nights and forcing him to pay than the merits of their legal
whether former New York for his own ticket to games. arguments.”
Knicks star Charles Oak- Oakley blamed Dolan for his Madison Square Garden re-
ley was ejected from Mad- ouster from the game, saying leased a statement, saying of-
ison Square Garden with he was “treated like a com- ficials are pleased that most
excessive force when he mon criminal” after Dolan claims were dismissed. Those
was removed as a specta- directed security to “forcibly claims include defamation al-
tor to a 2017 game, an ap- remove Mr. Oakley from the legations made against Dolan.
peals court ruled Monday. Garden and publicly embar- According to the statement,
rass him on live television,” MSG representatives are
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court the lawsuit said. “confident that after a review
of Appeals reinstated assault It said Dolan and Madi- of the facts, the remaining
and battery claims Oakley son Square Garden then claims will also be dismissed.”
made in a lawsuit brought launched a defamatory public In a statement released by his
against the team’s owners af- relations campaign, accusing lawyers, Oakley said: “I am
ter his February 2017 removal rejected Oakley’s claims of fied damages in a defamation Oakley of abusing fans and appreciative of the appeals
from a game the Knicks lost defamation and false impris- lawsuit claiming assault, bat- staff, acting inappropriately court as I now have a chance
to the Los Angeles Clippers. onment. tery and false imprisonment, and struggling with alcohol- to show the world what I said
A three-judge panel conclud- Oakley was a Knicks fan fa- contending his treatment was ism. from day one was true. The
ed a jury could decide wheth- vorite from 1988 to 1998. part of team owner James truth is going to come out at
er it was improper for secu- He was accused of striking a Dolan’s pattern of harass- The lawsuit was thrown out trial and Dolan will be held
rity guards to throw Oakley security guard before he was ment against him. earlier this year by U.S. Dis- responsible for what he did.”
to the ground after Oakley, forcefully removed and ar- The lawsuit said Dolan had trict Judge Richard J. Sulli- His lawyer, Douglas Wigdor,
according to his court papers, rested outside the stadium. frequently “disrespected” van, who said the case “had said: “This is a great day for
slapped their hands away in The charges were later dis- Oakley by refusing to make the feel of a public relations Knicks fans and fans of Mr.
self-defense as he sought to missed. eye contact or shake his hand campaign, with the parties Oakley, and we look forward
watch the game. The power forward sued lat- during meetings and by de- seemingly more interested in to the truth of what happened
The appeals court, though, er the same year for unspeci- nying him fan appreciation the court of public opinion finally coming out.”

Ex-Giant Baker cleared of robbery; victims’ lawyer arrested

Quinton Dunbar, who had 10 years in prison and could them off speaks for itself
originally been accused of as- have received life. about what happened,” Co-
sisting Baker, had previously Dean was being held Mon- hen said.
been cleared for lack of evi- day pending an initial court Baker was a first-round pick
dence. hearing. His law partner, Mi- for the Giants in the 2019
The sheriff’s office says Dean chael J. Rotundo, declined NFL draft out of the Univer-
told Baker’s attorney, Brad- comment. sity of Georgia. He played in
ford Cohen, that the three Cohen said he has represent- all 16 games last season, start-
alleged victims he represent- ed numerous high-profile ing the final 15. He finished
ed would stop cooperating clients including former bas- with 61 tackles (48 solo) and
with prosecutors or change ketball star Dennis Rodman eight passes defensed and was
their stories if they were and rapper Kodak Black and expected to be a starter this
paid $266,000 each. Investi- never had an attorney for an year before his arrest.
(AP) — Former New York it was dropping all charges gators say Dean said his cli- alleged victim approach him The NFL placed him on the
Giants cornerback DeAn- against Baker shortly after the ents would “do anything you with an offer to have his cli- exempt list in July and he was
dre Baker was cleared of county sheriff’s office arrest- want, so long as the money is ents stop cooperating with released by the Giants in Sep-
robbery charges in Florida ed attorney William Dean, right.” a criminal investigation in tember.
on Monday after his al- 50, and charged him with ex- Prosecutor Paul R. Valcore exchange for money. Cohen The NFL did not immediate-
leged victims’ attorney tortion. said in a statement that the said he never believed Baker ly return a call seeking com-
was arrested on extortion Baker, 23, had been charged alleged victims’ credibility “is robbed the men, who all have ment Monday about whether
charges. with holding up four men at unalterably tarnished,” mak- felony records. Baker will now be reinstated.
gunpoint at a May barbecue ing the prosecution of Baker The Giants’ media relations
The Broward County State in suburban Fort Lauderdale. impossible. If convicted, “The fact that they were try- office did not answer a phone
Attorney’s Office announced Seattle Seahawks cornerback Baker faced a minimum of ing to get my client to pay call Monday morning.
Olympic champ Kipruto charged with having sex with minor

(AP) — Olympic steeple- The 25-year-old Kipruto, lieving she was over the age
chase champion Conses- who is a policeman, was of 18 or that he reasonably
lus Kipruto of Kenya has charged in a courthouse in believed she was over 18. He
been charged with having Kapsabet, a town in the high- made no arguments in his de-
sexual intercourse with a altitude Rift Valley region fense on Monday apart from
15-year-old girl and was that is famous for producing denying the charge.
released on bail Monday a stream of world-class dis-
after pleading not guilty tance runners. Kipruto lives Kipruto won gold in the
. in the region and was born in 3,000-meter steeplechase
Kipruto was charged with nearby Eldoret, another re- at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro
what is referred to as “defile- nowned running town. Olympics. He followed that
ment” in Kenyan law — sex- Kipruto wore a red sweatshirt up with back-to-back victo-
ual intercourse with a minor with the hood pulled over his ries at the world champion-
under the age of 18. Because head in an attempt to hide his from taking photographs first arrested on Nov. 11. Ke- ships in 2017 and 2019.
the girl is under 16, Kipruto face from photographers at of him. He was released on nyan media reported that the He hasn’t competed this sea-
faces at least 20 years in pris- the courthouse. He also had a $1,800 cash bail. girl had disappeared from her son. He withdrew from the
on if convicted, according to mask on because of the coro- Kipruto is alleged to have home and had stayed at Kip- Diamond League meet in
Kenya’s sexual offenses laws. navirus. Police officers who had intercourse with the girl ruto’s house for three days. Monaco in August after test-
The charge is comparable to escorted Kipruto to court on Oct. 20 and 21, according Kipruto could argue that the ing positive for the coronavi-
statutory rape. tried to prevent journalists to the charge sheet, and was minor deceived him into be- rus.