A bunch of Radio City Music Hall employees have kicked James Dolan within the chin with a lawsuit – accusing the media mogul of firing them for failing to comply with an “unnecessary, draconian” COVID vaccination order, The Post has learned.
Five backstage employees have accused Dolan-owned Madison Square Garden Entertainment — which runs the Rockettes’ famous vacation spot — of refusing to just accept their “frank religious and medical objections to the vaccine,” in accordance with documents filed in Recent Jersey, federal court this week.
Dolan, who also owns the Knicks and Rangers, is already facing legal rebellions from other parts of his entertainment and sports empire. He faces multiple lawsuits for using facial recognition technology to ban legal rivals in venues equivalent to Radio City and Madison Square Garden, in addition to a shareholder lawsuit over the $900 million acquisition of MSG Networks.
![A group of stewards at Radio City Music Hall say they were fired for refusing to comply with the MSG](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/NYPICHPDPICT000004335083.jpg?w=1024)
The newest legal fight over the controversial issue of vaccination orders was brought by Stephanie Marra, Donna Holland, Teofesta Pusillo, Lourdes Garcia and Kyle Nicholson.
Madison Square Garden and Radio City were amongst the various entertainment venues across the town that were forced to shut in spring 2020 as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak.
MSGE required all of its employees to at the very least receive their first vaccine before July 12, 2021, and set a deadline of August 21, 2021 to offer proof of possession of each vaccines, the lawsuit said.
![James Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden Entertainment, has been sued by former Radio City employees who say they were fired for refusing to take the COVID vaccine.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/NYPICHPDPICT000006833753-1.jpg?w=1024)
![Radio City Music Hall does not require visitors to show proof of vaccination, although private companies may legally require employees to be vaccinated.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/NYPICHPDPICT000002607395.jpg?w=1024)
All five refused on religious grounds and were shown the exit. Nicholson was released on July 12, 2021, and Marra, Pusillo, and Garcia were released on July 23, 2021, in accordance with legal documents. Holland lost his job on October 15, 2021. Marra, Holland, Pusillo and Garcia – all Recent Jersey residents – were stewards. Nicholson was a stage assistant.
“Madison Square Garden Entertainment has chosen to disregard the rights of its employees, disregard their deepest convictions of conscience, and harass anyone who has defied mandatory vaccinations,” said Lexis Anderson, a Los Angeles attorney who represents one in every of the plaintiffs, the Post Office.
The lawsuit accused MSGE and MSG Sports – which own the Knicks and Rangers – of “applying their mandate in another way” after making “exceptions for certain groups of individuals,” in accordance with court documents.
![Redundant employees called up](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/NYPICHPDPICT000007081698.jpg?w=1024)
The lawsuit specifically cited the Rangers for allowing players to take ice. “The team was considered fully vaccinated at 85%. This allowed players to be released mechanically [who] opposed the compulsory vaccination policy,” the lawsuit reads.
Meanwhile, MSGE employees “did not have the identical option but were as an alternative intimidated and harassed,” in accordance with the lawsuit.
“This case seeks legal redress for the discrimination and coercion these individuals have suffered by the hands of the entertainment titan,” Anderson said.
An MSGE spokesman declined to comment.
The five plaintiffs also appealed the case to the Recent York State Department of Human Rights, alleging “discrimination based on religion and perceived disability,” in accordance with court records.
The NYSDHR dismissed all their complaints.
The post sought comment from the NYSDHR.