UFC superstar Conor McGregor is facing a new civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery during the 2023 NBA Finals. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, names McGregor, Basketball Properties LLC (which operates the Kaseya Center), the Miami Heat, and Compass Group USA as defendants.
The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, alleges that McGregor forcibly led her to a bathroom during Game 4 of the Finals and attempted to assault her sexually. According to the lawsuit, McGregor’s security team facilitated the incident by preventing others from entering the restroom. The filing states that McGregor attempted to force his penis into her mouth and anus while she was inside stall.
Doe, who is a 49-year-old Senior Wall Street Vice-President, has chosen to remain anonymous to protect her privacy and career. She is seeking compensatory damages for past and future medical-treatment, as well as other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
McGregor’s Legal Team Denies Allegations
McGregor’s attorney, Barbara Llanes, expressed confidence that the lawsuit would be dismissed.
“After a thorough investigation at the time, the State’s Attorney concluded there was no case to pursue,” 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 allegations were initially reported in the days following the game. However, the state attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence and contradictory accounts from witnesses.
Additional Allegations Against McGregor and Co-Defendants
The lawsuit also accuses McGregor’s co-defendants of gross negligence. The plaintiff alleges that arena security knowingly allowed McGregor to remain in the venue after a separate mid-game incident, during which McGregor injured a person inside the Miami Heat mascot costume during a promotional skit. The suit further claims that venue and team employees continued to serve McGregor alcohol and permitted him to serve himself, despite his alleged behavior.
Previous Legal Troubles
This is not McGregor’s first civil lawsuit involving sexual misconduct. In November 2023, McGregor was found liable in Ireland for sexually assaulting a woman named Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel room in 2018. Despite the Irish jury’s decision, McGregor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
McGregor, who has not competed in the UFC since his 2021 TKO loss to Dustin Poirier due to a leg injury, has yet to publicly comment on this latest lawsuit.
What’s Next?
Jane Doe has requested a jury trial, seeking justice against McGregor and the other defendants. Summonses for the case were issued on Wednesday. The lawsuit is expected to draw significant attention as it unfolds in the coming months.
