Conor McGregor, Miami Heat sued over alleged sexual assault at 2023 NBA finals
Conor McGregor is facing a new civil lawsuit filed by a woman who accuses him of sexual assault during the 2023 NBA Finals in Miami.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, also names Miami Heat and Basketball Properties LLC, which operates the Kaseya Center, as defendants. The woman claims McGregor sexually assaulted her in an arena bathroom after Game 4 between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets on June 9, 2023.
The accuser, identified as a 49-year-old Wall Street vice president, claims McGregor was given too much alcohol by arena staff despite being visibly intoxicated. The lawsuit accuses McGregor of battery and the Kaseya Center of gross negligence for failing to ensure a safe environment. It is alleged that McGregor led the woman into a toilet stall and sexually assaulted her after an employee forcibly brought her to McGregor.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, medical expenses and other relief.
The incident was initially reported to the Miami Police Department on June 11, 2023. However, in October 2023, the Florida Attorney General’s Office declined to pursue criminal charges. McGregor has denied the allegations, calling them a ‘shakedown’. His lawyer, Barbara Llanes, said: “Almost two years and at least three lawyers later, the plaintiff has a new false story. We are confident that this case will also be dismissed.”
The lawsuit also highlights an earlier incident that night when McGregor punched Miami Heat mascot Burnie during a break during a skit advertising a pain-relieving spray, resulting in the mascot’s hospitalization. Despite this, arena staff continued to serve McGregor alcohol.
The plaintiff’s attorney, Jim Dunn, emphasized that the civil suit is her only remaining path to justice. Dunn noted that his client wants to raise awareness about sexual assault and is concerned about the potential impact of the lawsuit on her career. “Nevertheless, her primary goal in filing this lawsuit is to raise awareness and encourage others to report sexual abuse,” Dunn said.
McGregor, one of the UFC’s most prominent fighters, has not competed since breaking his leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021. He was recently ordered to pay $264,000 in damages in a separate civil case in Ireland.
Neither the Miami Heat nor Basketball Properties LLC have responded to the latest lawsuit.