Donnie Nelson’s wrongful termination lawsuit against the Dallas Mavericks is scheduled to go to trial Dec. 10, according to court documents.
The former president of basketball operations and general manager sued the Mavericks almost two years ago
, alleging that owner Mark Cuban fired him in retaliation for reporting that an employee close to Cuban sexually harassed and assaulted Nelson’s nephew in 2020.
In his lawsuit, Nelson alleged he connected his nephew, who was not named in either legal filing, with Cuban’s chief of staff, Jason Lutin, to discuss working in the sports and entertainment industry in February 2020 and that Lutin invited his nephew up to his hotel room during All-Star Weekend in Chicago, where the sexual harassment and assault occurred.
In a legal response to Nelson’s lawsuit “and its utterly fictitious Petition,” the Mavericks accused Nelson of extortion for up to $100 million against the organization.
The response said Nelson told Cuban he could make the allegations “go away” in exchange for a long-term contract extension as president of basketball operations and general manager.
