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Judge Grants Summary Judgment to Madison Square Garden in Charles Oakley Suit

The judge said video and witness accounts show no evidence Oakley was pushed and left the legal fight open to appeals and fee disputes.

Overview

  • A federal judge granted summary judgment for Madison Square Garden on Friday, ruling Charles Oakley failed to prove he was assaulted during a 2017 ejection.
  • Judge Richard J. Sullivan cited multi-angle video and unanimous witness testimony that, in his view, show Oakley was not pushed to the ground and had an opportunity to leave.
  • MSG issued a statement calling the claims false and said it will pursue legal action against Oakley’s lawyer, while a 2025 magistrate order requiring Oakley to pay $642,337.65 in fees remains part of the record.
  • Oakley’s attorney Douglas Wigdor said they will seek review from the Second Circuit and ask that the case be remanded for a jury trial.
  • The ruling is the third federal dismissal in this nearly nine-year dispute that began with Oakley’s 2017 ejection and arrest, and the matter could continue through appeals and related motions.