Ex-Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson sues team, claims retaliation for reporting sexual misconduct
Former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson sued the team on Thursday, saying that owner Mark Cuban fired him last year after he reported that a team executive sexually harassed and assaulted his nephew during a job interview, ESPN.com reported.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Dallas County, Texas, also alleges that Cuban offered Nelson $52 million to withdraw a wrongful termination claim and sign a confidentiality statement related to the abuse alleged.
Nelson, who spent 24 years with the Mavericks, says that Jason Lutin, who is Cuban's chief of staff, assaulted his nephew in a Chicago hotel room in 2020 during All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
The nephew was not identified in the lawsuit and Lutin is described in the filing as "a sexual predator."
"Everything in that filing is a lie," Cuban wrote in an email to ESPN. "We did multiple complete investigations and the only person that did not live up to the standards of the Dallas Mavericks was Mr. Nelson. He was fired as a result. He was well aware of the investigation. He refused to fully participate. I will say it again, everything he said is a lie."
Nelson also filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and explained why he took legal action is "on behalf of my family and all the Mavericks employees who have experienced harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace.
"Filing a lawsuit is not something to be taken lightly – however, it was extremely important that I speak up. The facts that come out in this lawsuit will hopefully protect the incredible people I've had the honor and privilege of working with during my 24 years with the Mavericks," Nelson told ESPN.