"The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors agreed to voluntarily dismiss a 2023 lawsuit involving the alleged theft of thousands of confidential files, according to a court filing Friday that was obtained by ESPN. Spokespersons representing the teams issued the same statement to ESPN: "The Knicks and (Raptors owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment) withdrew their respective claims and the matter is resolved. The Parties are focused on the future.""
"The Knicks filed the lawsuit in August 2023, seeking more than $10 million in damages. The team alleged that the Raptors poached Ikechukwu Azotam, who worked for New York from 2020 to 2023, and ordered him to provide a trove of internal information after Toronto began recruiting him in the summer of 2023. The Knicks argued that this effort was geared toward giving the Raptors a competitive advantage."
The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors voluntarily dismissed a 2023 lawsuit alleging theft of thousands of confidential files. Team spokespersons said both sides withdrew their respective claims and considered the matter resolved. The Knicks originally sought more than $10 million in damages and alleged that the Raptors poached Ikechukwu Azotam in summer 2023. The Knicks alleged Azotam sent thousands of confidential files, including play frequency reports, a 2022-23 prep book, video scouting files and opposition research. The Knicks alleged those files were provided at the Raptors' request to help organize and structure new coaching and video operations staff. The Raptors, Azotam, head coach Darko Rajaković, player development coach Noah Lewis and ten unnamed employees were named as defendants. The Raptors later called the allegations baseless and a public relations stunt.
Read at ESPN.com
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