On Friday, August 23rd the NBA and The Sacramento Kings found that there was insufficient evidence to support sexual assault allegations against Kings head coach Luke Walton. The allegation comes from a former sports reporter Kelli Tennant. The NBA and Kings stated that the accuser Tennant did not respond to their investigation. Luke Walton to return to coaching Kings.
The Incident
Kelli Tennant was a reporter, broadcaster and host for Spectrum SportsNet and SportsNet LA in 2014. The two met when Walton was hired as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors. Tennant believed that Walton was a friend and a mentor to her. She had written a book and wanted Walton to write a forward for it. Walton had asked Tennant to come up to his room with him.
However, she was skeptical about it but went to Walton’s room anyway.
Tennant states:
“Out of nowhere, he got on top of me and pinned me down to the bed and held my arms down with all of his weight while he kissed my neck and my face and my chest.. adding that when she asked him to get off, “he laughed at me.”
Walton’s response, “I am 100% focused on coaching the Sacramento Kings and energized to work with this incredible group of players and coaches as we start the preseason. I will have no further comment.”
But in June Waltons Attorneys filed a brief stating that the case lacked merit. That the accuser designed this with the intention to attract media attention. They go on to say that, Tennant filed a lawsuit nearly five years after the alleged assault, which the brief calls a “pleasant encounter,” after she quit two jobs and needed money.
Kelli Tennant and here attorney
The Response By The NBA And The kings
Back in April after the alleged assault came out, the NBA and the Kings started an investigation. The investigation was headed by Sue Ann Van Dermyden, from the Sacramento law firm Van Dermyden Maddux, and Elizabeth Maringer, senior vice president and assistant general counsel of the NBA. During the investigation, they interviewed 20 different people. The accuser did not. Her or her representation would comment on why.
Going off the information they had obtained they agreed that there was insufficient evidence to support Tennant’s claims against Walton and the case is considered closed unless new evidence becomes available. That is if the accuser comes forward with new evidence. This seems to be the way professional sports gets players out these types of incidents.
They take the easy way out and claim to let the system do its job and they will follow. I get it if it was not this way it could lead to innocent people losing their livelihood. But is a policy that does nothing because of the lack of information a good policy?
Why Did The Accuser Not Respond?
It is not clear as to why she would not help the NBA in their investigation. There have been many legal experts who have theories. “Lawyers generally don’t like it when their clients tell their stories multiple times,” Northwestern University law professor Deborah Tuerkheimer said. “I’m not surprised she decided to opt-out.”
Furthermore many times attorneys do not like to have their clients speak with the company in question as they tend to go on the defensive when it pertains to their employees. Also, it would be a bit unlikely to have an individual involved in a case under litigation to testify at private companies own investigation. It is better to leave it in the court system where they have a better chance. This case is now in civil litigation as the accuser never filed a criminal complaint.
What Will The Conclusion Be?
It seems that the NBA was trying to get this out of the way before training camp begins. Why would the NBA not wait until the litigation was resolved? why now? and it also goes to the credibility of the NBA when they state they talked with 20 people involved. Who did they talk with? What information did they have? See the thing is when they go to court then many of these type questions can be answered. But for now, the NBA can hide behind the “we had nothing but one side of the story” line.
What will likely happen is nothing. Whatever has taken place is all that will take place. There were no charges filed so the NBA has covered themselves. They conducted an “investigation”, they gave each party the right to speak. The story they used was Walton’s. They are banking that these cases will not see the light of day or nothing new will pop out. Not a great gamble in this type of case but hey they are the NBA and for now Luke Walton to return to coaching the Kings.
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