WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A woman who accused former UFC champion Conor McGregor of sexual assault but was failed to secure the filing of criminal charges is now filing a complaint against him and employees of the basketball arena where she says the attack took place.
The woman is described in the complaint as a 49-year-old senior vice president at a prominent Wall Street financial institution. She alleges that McGregor assaulted her in the bathroom of the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat, on June 9, 2023, when the Heat were facing the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. His attorney, James Dunn, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
“My client has thought long and hard about the decision to pursue this civil action and fears the effects it could have on her work on Wall Street,” Dunn said. “Nevertheless, his primary goal in filing this action is to raise awareness and encourage others to report sexual assault.”
The lawsuit alleges that arena staff and security “had actual knowledge of the unlawful nature of the conduct” and failed to provide adequate security to protect her. It also accuses staff of continuing to serve alcohol to McGregor despite “paid knowledge of an increased risk of battery”.
The lawsuit notes that McGregor was present at the game for a promotional skit in which he punched the Heat’s mascot, Burnie, then punched the mascot again after he hit the ground. Miami Heat promotional members then dragged Burnie off the court as McGregor attempted to “spray” the mascot with a featured painkiller.
After the match ended, the woman was led by someone affiliated with McGregor to the men’s restroom, where the assault took place, according to the lawsuit.
Authorities began investigating the allegations, but announced four months later that they would not press charges.
The Associated Press left a telephone and email message with McGregor’s lawyer. Heat spokeswoman Lorrie-Ann Diaz told the AP the organization does not comment on litigation.
McGregor was a former UFC champion in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions, becoming the first UFC fighter to win championships in both weight classes at the same time. In November, a civil court jury in Ireland, awarded 250,000 euros to a woman who said she was “brutally raped and beaten” by McGregor.
