James Dolan’s Blacklist: Lawyers Banned from Madison Square Garden
In May, while Knicks fans celebrated the playoff victory against the Celtics, Justin Brandel, from his Manhattan apartment, experienced a mix of emotions. Despite the euphoria, his joy was marred by a reality: he was banned from Madison Square Garden (MSG) by James Dolan, CEO of MSG Sports and MSG Entertainment. The ban, which affects lawyers litigating against Dolan’s properties, prevented him from joining the celebration and enjoying the game.
Dolan’s practice of banning people is not new. Charles Oakley was a landmark case in 2017, and in 2022 it was revealed that MSG maintained a list of banned people, mainly lawyers. Despite the criticism, the list remains in effect, affecting hundreds of legal professionals.
The ban extends to all of Dolan’s venues, including the Beacon Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. Brandel, for example, was unable to attend a John Oliver and Seth Meyers concert at the Beacon Theatre, a birthday gift from his parents. The lawsuit that caused his ban was resolved, but uncertainty about his situation persisted. “I wouldn’t spend a thousand dollars to be kicked out of MSG,” Brandel commented.
The veto process begins with an official letter from MSG Entertainment, sent by FedEx. The missive notifies the lawyer and their firm of the ban on access to the venues until the litigation is resolved. This measure affects the lawyers, but not the support staff. In addition, previously acquired tickets are revoked.
Mark Seitelman received his letter after filing a lawsuit for an injury at MSG. The banned list is extensive and constantly changing, as cases are resolved and new ones arise. Most of the lawyers on the list are not directly involved in the cases that led to their being banned.
Frank Miller Jr., former art director of Hot 97, was banned for wearing a t-shirt that said “BAN DOLAN”. He was later recognized by security guards at Radio City Music Hall and was denied entry.
MSG Entertainment uses facial recognition technology to identify people on the banned list. In December 2022, The New York Times reported on the use of this technology to expel lawyers. The New York Attorney General requested information about the ban, which generated a defiant response from Dolan.
Seth Diamond, a lawyer at Morgan & Morgan, was banned from attending a Rangers game with his son. Despite not being aware of the ban, he was identified and denied entry. Dolan seems firm in his policy, but the company is not transparent about how it is applied.
Dan Watts, an attorney at Morgan & Morgan, managed to evade security at a Drake concert, but was discovered at a Knicks game. Watts, a fervent St. John’s fan, was eventually identified and banned from a basketball game.From James Dolan’s perspective, the policy is simple: you can’t sue someone and then attend their private events. However, the ban on all lawyers from a firm, even those not involved in the lawsuit, generates controversy. Joseph DePaola suggests that the ban seeks to deter lawyers from suing MSG.
“It’s basically to deter litigation against MSG, to scare lawyers so they don’t take cases against Madison Square Garden or any of its entities,” DePaola said.
Joseph DePaola
John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan, responded to the ban by creating a website to seek lawsuits against Dolan’s properties. Landi, a lawyer at Harris Keenan & Goldfarb, was banned from a Mariah Carey concert. Her brother was also banned after confronting Dolan.At the end, the process concludes with a letter from MSG Entertainment informing about the resolution of the case and welcoming the lawyers back. However, for some, like Dan Watts, the wait could be indefinite due to the ongoing nature of the litigation against MSG.
Seth Diamond views the experience as a lesson for his son about power and decency, regardless of wealth. The story of James Dolan’s blacklist is a reflection of power, justice, and the impact it can have on people’s lives.
