Former Dallas Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson Sues Team; Says Was Fired For Reporting Sexual Misconduct Against Nephew
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Former Dallas Mavericks General Manager Donnie Nelson is suing his former employer.
ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. broke the story.
In the lawsuit filed in Dallas County on Thursday, March 17, Nelson alleges he was fired as retaliation for reporting Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban's Chief of Staff Jason Lutin sexually harassed and sexually assaulted Nelson's nephew during a job interview in 2020.
Nelson also claims Cuban offered him $52 million to withdraw a wrongful termination claim and sign a confidentiality statement.
Nelson was fired in June 2021 after serving as General Manager and President of Basketball Operations for 24 years.
Nelson, who is seeking damages for mental anguish, is requesting a jury hear his case.
In an email to CBS 11, Cuban denied the allegations:
"The filing is full of lies and ridiculous. The NBA is and was fully aware of our investigation into Mr Nelson and his claims. They fully supported our conclusion that the only person to violate The Mavs and NBA policies was Mr Nelson, and they were fully supportive of our decision to terminate Mr Nelson. I can only guess that this is sour grapes and a way to try to get back at us for firing him."
The Mavericks responded in court on Friday in a filing calling the lawsuit, "the final desperate effort of Nelson's lengthy scheme to extort as much as $100 million form the team.
The Mavericks also said the team hired an independent outside law firm to investigate the alleged incident and that the matter was closed to Nelson's nephew's satisfaction.
