Lawyers Who've Been Banned From MSG by James Dolan Recall Stories of Being Swarmed by Guards and Booted

Seth Diamond, a personal injury lawyer from Georgia's Morgan & Morgan law firm, remembers his visit to Madison Square Garden like a slap shot to the face. He was vacationing in New York with his young son when an MSG official suddenly turned him away at the gate, leaving the boy in tears and Diamond wondering what had just happened.

The experience was a stark reminder of the controversy surrounding James Dolan's facial recognition policy, which has banned hundreds of lawyers from attending events at MSG and other venues owned by his company. The policy, launched in 2022, uses facial recognition technology to identify critics who have been involved in lawsuits against Dolan or his companies.

Diamond was not working on any case against MSG, but he landed on the exclusion list because lawyers from his firm were suing the arena owners. Instead of enjoying a Rangers game with his son, Diamond and the tearful boy went to a Build-A-Bear Workshop down the block.

"Remember," Diamond recalled telling his 7-year-old son after being booted, "the person who made this decision - they have more money than probably anyone you'll ever meet in your life... But they're doing things that aren't good."

The policy has been a contentious issue since its introduction, with many lawyers and critics alleging that it is an abuse of power and a threat to free speech. In the past few years, Dolan has expanded the exclusion list to include over 1,000 lawyers from around 90 law firms in the country.

According to ESPN, lawyers who have been banned from attending events at MSG have reported being swarmed by guards, receiving dramatic FedEx packages informing them of their exclusion, and being subjected to intense scrutiny and questioning.

"They came running over like the 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' with their fingers on their earpieces," said Frank Miller Jr., a former Hot 97 radio art director who was booted from Radio City Music Hall in March. Miller, who designed a "BAN DOLAN" t-shirt, was handed a trespass notice and escorted out of the venue after being recognized by security.

Justin Brandel, another lawyer banned from MSG, reported having his parents surprise him with orchestra-level tickets to see comedians John Oliver and Seth Meyers at the Beacon Theatre. However, when he arrived, he was turned away due to his profession as a lawyer.

"I had to explain to them that I couldn’t go... because I didn’t want to give the MSG Company the satisfaction of kicking me out without any refunds," Brandel told ESPN. "They ended up taking a couple that they're friendly with."

Nicolette Landi, a lawyer who specializes in personal injury, had previously received a ticket to Mariah Carey's Holiday concert at MSG from her husband for Christmas 2022. However, when she arrived, she was identified using facial recognition technology and turned away by security.

"As soon as my bag was going through the conveyor belt, there were 10 security guards around me," Landi told ESPN. "Yeah, it’s her," one of the guards said after checking her ID, according to Landi. “Oh my God, what did you do?” her husband asked - before they were ushered outside.

Dan Watts, a Queens native and lawyer from Morgan & Morgan, was also booted from MSG after scoring tickets to a St. John’s Red Storm NCAA basketball game against Fordham on Dec. 16, 2023.

Reactions to the Policy

A spokeswoman for MSG Entertainment disputed the numbers reported by ESPN, calling the report "a total hack story." The company claims that its policy is designed to ensure the safety and security of patrons and employees.

"Attorneys that are employed by law firms that are actively suing MSG and its employees are deemed to be hostile and are prohibited from patronizing our venues until the litigation is concluded," MSG Entertainment said in a statement. "They are predatory in nature as shown by the website 'SueMSG.com.'"

On the other hand, many lawyers and critics have expressed outrage over the policy, arguing that it is an abuse of power and a threat to free speech.

The Impact on Lawyers

According to ESPN, lawyers who have been banned from attending events at MSG Entertainment-run venues have reported feeling intimidated, humiliated, and frustrated by the experience.

"If there's someone you don't want to serve, you get to say, 'I don’t want to serve you,'" said James Dolan in a 2023 interview with FOX. "If there's somebody who is suing you and trying to put you out of business or take your money from you... You have a right to be, yes, a little unhappy about it,"

However, critics argue that the policy is not only unfair but also unconstitutional.

The Company’s Response

MSG Entertainment is currently defending itself in 19 active lawsuits, most of which involve personal injury claims at the Garden. The company has stated that its policies are designed to ensure the safety and security of patrons and employees.

"Millions of customers come to MSG and its related venues every year," MSG Entertainment said in a statement. "Our policies are designed to ensure their comfort and enjoyment at every event."