A civil lawsuit has been filed against Conor McGregor, the Miami Heat, and Basketball Properties LLC, alleging that the UFC star sexually assaulted a woman at the Kaseya Center during the 2023 NBA finals.
The lawsuit, filed in the US district court for the southern district of Florida, accuses McGregor of battery and the Kaseya Center of gross negligence.
According to the lawsuit, the alleged incident occurred on June 9, 2023, after Game 4 between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets.
The plaintiff, a 49-year-old Wall Street vice president, claims that McGregor was served alcohol by arena staff despite being visibly intoxicated. The lawsuit alleges that McGregor led the woman into a restroom stall and sexually assaulted her after an associate forcibly took her to McGregor.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Jim Dunn, stated that his client aims to raise awareness about sexual assault and is concerned about the lawsuit’s potential impact on her career. “Nonetheless, her main goal in filing this suit is to raise awareness and encourage others to report sexual assault,” Dunn said.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages exceeding $75,000, medical expenses, and other relief. The incident was initially reported to Miami police on June 11, 2023. However, in October 2023, the Florida State Attorney’s office declined to pursue criminal charges.
McGregor has denied the allegations, calling them a “shakedown.” His attorney, Barbara Llanes, stated, “Almost two years and at least three lawyers later the plaintiff has a new false story. We are confident that this case too will be dismissed.”
The lawsuit also highlights an earlier incident that night when McGregor punched the Miami Heat mascot, Burnie, during a half-time skit promoting a pain relief spray, resulting in the mascot’s hospitalization. Despite this, arena staff allegedly continued serving McGregor alcohol.
