04/24/24
October 03, 2007
Isiah Thomas found guilty in sexual harrassment case: Anucha Browne Sanders has been awarded US$11.6 million in a sexual harassment lawsuit involving Isiah Thomas
posted by HATER 187 to basketball at 12:15 AM - 9 comments
The most telling thing about this lawsuit though is that the organization tried to sweep this under the rug rather than take the opportunity to get rid of him. There may have been a huge legal advantage to them getting rid of him. An employer may not be liable for "condoning" harassment if it takes timely action to correct.* So their risk assessment must have balanced extent of P.R. damage and the unlikelihood of a successful harassment claim. Oops, maybe they used metric scales and english calculations or something. *Disclaimer: Author is 2nd year law student who researched Title VII retaliation/harassment last year for a brief. He claims no knowledge of the realities of practicing labor and employment law.
posted by lawn_wrangler at 10:38 AM on October 03, 2007
From the article: "Dolan testified that he dismissed Browne Sanders after discovering that she was pressuring subordinates to back her complaint. Defence [sic, oh wait, no it's just Canadian] lawyers accused Browne Sanders of being incompetent and unable to adapt once Thomas arrived at the organization. " Nice defense work there guys--"Uhm, she might have been fired purely as retaliation, as confessed, but it was really because she was incompetent."
posted by bmauger at 11:13 AM on October 03, 2007
Here's the Sports Guy's take on the matter. Some good reading in there..
posted by blarp at 01:19 PM on October 03, 2007
Dolan should be taking that 11.6 mil out of Isaiah's paycheck! Not like he deserves it anyway. Wonder in the Knicks do payroll deductions?
posted by Pimpkiller at 04:06 PM on October 03, 2007
It takes more than one incident to be guilty of harrassment. If the first one is noted and the woman tells the man to stop it and he does.... that likely gets a pass as a bad day. But it the reaction is repeated, then the man would be guilty. Management is guilty period in these cases... because they "knew or ought to have known..."... else they would be incompetent managers... So management gets it in the &*^&% anyway one cuts it. Basics are UNWANTED (that first bad act), UNWELCOME (woman tells someone to stop it) and REPEATED to be harrassment. These days, ya gotta be super stupid to repeat an action that is unwelcome!!!
posted by Fly_Piscator at 06:52 PM on October 03, 2007
These days, ya gotta be super stupid to repeat an action that is unwelcome!!! Or super-arrogant. There are a lot of people out there who believe that the laws don't apply to them. It's pretty depressing unless the laws they happen to be flouting are the laws of physics -- then it's just funny.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:31 PM on October 03, 2007
Speaking of funny, does anyone else think its interesting that Clarence Thomas (or at least Anita Hill) is back in the news the same week Isiah Thomas is. Two prominent, self-righteous, black men with the last name of Thomas, who've sexually harassed a black woman yet adamantly believe that she's just being difficult. At least Isiah didn't use the "I was just courting her" defense. Then again, Clarence's story didn't involve "sex with star guard Stephon Marbury outside a strip club."
posted by bmauger at 02:58 AM on October 04, 2007
The amazing thing about this incident is that Isiah has not been atleast suspended by his employer while the appeal is made and or terminated. In any Corp. across this culture this conviction would result in termination without benefits. Also, Al Sharpton only wants an apology?!!! Come on..... Lets hope the sponsors of MSG and the Knicks take their own action.
posted by jb24 at 12:08 PM on October 07, 2007
I was glad to see Isiah leave Indy when he did. Now maybe some of the people who thought it was a mistake to let such a great guy go will see more clearly. Although, he may have fit in well with the Pacers, considering the last couple of years with their thug behavior. The most telling thing about this lawsuit though is that the organization tried to sweep this under the rug rather than take the opportunity to get rid of him. Was Isiah really so valuable to them that they had to cover for him? I look at what he's done for (to) the Knicks and think they should be looking for any reason they can find to send him packing. Instead they sign an $11.6 million check for him. Can the NBA slip any lower? Unfortunately they probably will!!