A Long Island family has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the wife and daughter of John “Junior” Gotti, alleging they were assaulted in a racially charged incident at a high school basketball game.
Jean and Crystal Etienne claim that Kimberly and Gianna Gotti directed derogatory language towards their son, including racial slurs and insults. The altercation took place during a basketball game between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley high schools in February 2024, resulting in assault charges against Kimberly and Gianna. However, the charges were later dismissed due to a technicality.
The Etienne family alleges that the Gottis physically assaulted them, with Crystal Etienne suffering a head injury in the altercation. They also claim that the Locust Valley Central School District failed to intervene despite the ongoing aggressive behavior.
According to court documents, the incident was captured on video and was the result of years of racist behavior at Locust Valley High School. The Etiennes, who are wealthy business owners, reside in a $6 million mansion in Upper Brookville.
The Gottis have denied the allegations of using racial slurs and have rejected plea deals from prosecutors, attributing the charges to their famous last name. Their lawyer dismissed the new lawsuit as frivolous and baseless.
Junior Gotti, a former mobster, served time in prison for racketeering and faced multiple mistrials in federal court. The Locust Valley Central School District and the Etienne family’s lawyer declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
