Charles Oakley’s lawsuit against Madison Square Garden (MSG), stemming from a 2017 incident where he claimed security guards assaulted him during a Knicks game, was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan in August 2026. The ruling granted summary judgment to MSG after nearly nine years of legal contention. Oakley’s initial suit, filed in September 2017, also named Knicks owner James Dolan, but all claims against Dolan were dismissed in 2020. Oakley’s remaining assault and battery allegations focused solely on MSG and related entities.

The judge’s decision was influenced by newly presented evidence including videos, eyewitness sworn declarations, and multiple depositions, which purportedly showed Oakley was not assaulted. Judge Sullivan noted that aside from Oakley, no other witnesses corroborated his claim of being pushed to the ground. The ruling emphasized that no reasonable jury could find that Oakley faced a real threat of wrongful physical contact or that MSG intended to cause such fear during the event witnessed by thousands and captured on many cameras.

MSG welcomed the ruling, praising the court’s repeated dismissals of Oakley’s claims and accusing his legal team of pursuing false accusations over the years. MSG also announced plans to seek legal action against Oakley’s lawyer Douglas Wigdor’s firm for what they labeled frivolous litigation and judicial system abuse. Oakley was previously ordered in 2025 to pay Dolan’s company approximately $642,000 in attorney fees related to deleted text messages from the aftermath of the arena incident, further weakening his position in the dispute.

Despite this major setback, Oakley’s attorneys remain determined to continue pursuing the case. They expressed disappointment with the court’s ruling and asserted that conflicting accounts exist that only a jury can resolve. They are hoping the Second Circuit will overturn the dismissal and send the case back for an immediate jury trial. Meanwhile, two motions from Oakley remain outstanding, so the legal battle is not officially over, but MSG’s recent victory on the core claims marks a critical turning point in the protracted dispute.