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=
September 6, 2007
While the Knicks are still more than a month away =
from their=20
first preseason game, Isiah Thomas is virtually assured of being in =
court Monday=20
to begin defending himself against a sexual harassment lawsuit that =
promises to=20
dominate headlines.
Sources on both sides of the case against =
Thomas and=20
Madison Square Garden continued to reject the possibility of a =
settlement=20
Wednesday. Barring unforeseen developments, jury selection will begin at =
9:30=20
a.m. Monday at U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
Despite the =
awesome=20
potential for the dirty laundry and secrets of the Knicks and the Garden =
to be=20
aired in public, the case is virtually 100 percent assured of going to =
trial,=20
the sources said.
Attorneys for both the Garden and plaintiff Anucha =
Browne=20
Sanders declined to comment Wednesday on numerous pretrial rulings this =
week by=20
U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch.
While there was no =
overwhelming=20
significance to Lynch's rulings on six motions by Browne Sanders and =
seven by=20
Thomas and MSG, Lynch surprised both sides by reversing a previous =
ruling that=20
suggested evidence of settlement negotiations should be admissible as=20
evidence.
In an opinion filed Tuesday, Lynch granted Browne =
Sanders'=20
motion to exclude evidence of settlement talks. Lynch ruled that the =
Garden and=20
Thomas could not use Browne Sanders' 2006 offer to settle the lawsuit =
for about=20
$6 million in making their case that her harassment and retaliation =
claims were=20
"frivolous" and made "in bad faith."
Thomas, the Knicks' coach =
and=20
president, and Browne Sanders each suffered setbacks in Lynch's other =
rulings.=20
For example, Lynch ruled that the Equal Employment Opportunity =
Commission's=20
determination that there was probable cause that Browne Sanders was =
harassed=20
would not be admissible. Lynch ruled against Thomas in deciding that =
Browne=20
Sanders' diary writings and comments to relatives and friends about the =
alleged=20
harassment would be admissible -- though only to show Browne Sanders' =
state of=20
mind.
Browne Sanders, a former MSG executive, is suing Thomas and =
the=20
Garden for at least $10.3 million, alleging that Thomas sexually =
harassed her=20
and that she was fired for complaining about it.
Opening =
arguments are=20
expected to begin Monday after a jury is selected from a pool of about =
100=20
potential jurors.
Copyright =C2=A9 2007, Newsday Inc.
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