Jury Rules Against Isiah Thomas

A jury ruled today that the New York Knicks coach sexually harassed a former top team executive, subjecting her to unwanted advances and a barrage of verbal insults, but also ruled he does not have to pay punitive damages. After an ugly, three-week trial, the ruling gives Thomas a partial victory in the $10 million lawsuit filed by Anucha Browne Sanders.

The jury found that Madison Square Garden committed harassment against the woman, and ruled that she is entitled to punitive damages from MSG. U.S. District Judge Gerard E. Lynch called it an "imminently reasonable" verdict and said the jury will be asked to return later today to hear brief arguments on punitive damages.

Ms. Browne Sanders, fired from her $260,000 a year job in 2006, sued Thomas and Madison Square Garden. Her case presented MSG as "Animal House" in sneakers, a place where nepotism, sexism, crude remarks and crass language were part of the culture. The former Northwestern University basketball star characterized Thomas as a foul-mouthed lout who initially berated her as a "b___h" and a "ho" before his anger gave way to unwanted sexual advances and encouraging her to visit him "off site."

Thomas, who was hired in December 2003, denied all her allegations. Attorneys for Thomas and the Garden also portrayed Browne Sanders as incompetent and unable to adapt once the former NBA star player arrived as the Knicks' president.

My response: If she was fired for incompetence and not for crying foul about the sexual harassmen, then why did she get rave reviews in her assessment, regular salary increases, and promotions over the years? I ain't buying it, and she sounded credible to me. That videotape of Thomas talking about the B-word did not help his case. I don't understand why he doesn't have to pay personal damages, in addition to what MSG is gonna have to pay out.