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The sex trafficking lawsuit against WWE co-founder Vince McMahon is on the cusp of being dismissed, with a filing to move it to private arbitration that will keep its resolution out of the public eye.
Janel Grant, the former WWE employee who alleged McMahon sexually abused her and took part in sex trafficking while McMahon was part of the company, filed a joint motion with McMahon and WWE to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice in U.S. District Court of Connecticut on Friday, July 24, according to court documents. A judge still needs to approve the dismissal, which is expected to happen in the coming days with both parties agreeing to the decision.
By filing to dismiss the case with prejudice, it will not head to trial. Grant will not be able to refile a lawsuit against McMahon at a later date, and any further proceedings will take place confidentially in arbitration rather than in a public court.
"Plaintiff (Grant), Defendant World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC, and Defendant Vincent K. McMahon (together, the “Parties”) stipulate and agree that this action and all claims pled herein are hereby dismissed with prejudice, but without prejudice as to the Parties’ rights to pursue their claims and defenses in arbitration in accordance with their agreement to arbitrate," documents read.
USA TODAY Sports has reached out to representatives for Grant and WWE. Representatives for McMahon declined to comment.
The motion will end a case that began in January 2024, nearly two years after reports McMahon paid upwards of $12 million to four women over a 16-year span to quiet allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity that ultimately led to McMahon's departure from TKO Group Holdings, parent company of WWE.
Grant alleged McMahon subjected her to "acts of extreme cruelty and degradation" and made her sign a non-disclosure agreement about their relationship for an agreed amount of $3 million. She stated the agreement was breached since she didn't receive full payment from McMahon, and sought to void it with the lawsuit, seeking a ruling that the agreement was invalid under state and federal law.
Former WWE employee John Laurinaitis was also named in the suit, but was later dropped from it. Current WWE star Brock Lesnar was mentioned as someone McMahon allegedly offered Grant to for sexual encounters.
Federal prosecutors investigated the claims while Grant sought several items regarding the case, such as her medical records. The case had yet to go to trial, and it appeared to unlikely to happen when, on June 11, all sides filed a motion of adjournment for an upcoming hearing. The parties wrote they were in "discussions regarding a potential agreement to arbitrate the dispute in confidential arbitration." That paved the road toward the lawsuit's pending dismissal.
The decision is seen as a major victory for McMahon, who has denied the allegations since the suit was filed. His side argued since the non-disclosure agreement was signed, the suit should be handled in private arbitration and avoid a trial.
McMahon has not publicly been involved with WWE since his resignation.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vince McMahon sex trafficking lawsuit to be dismissed, go to private arbitration
Continue reading...
Janel Grant, the former WWE employee who alleged McMahon sexually abused her and took part in sex trafficking while McMahon was part of the company, filed a joint motion with McMahon and WWE to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice in U.S. District Court of Connecticut on Friday, July 24, according to court documents. A judge still needs to approve the dismissal, which is expected to happen in the coming days with both parties agreeing to the decision.
By filing to dismiss the case with prejudice, it will not head to trial. Grant will not be able to refile a lawsuit against McMahon at a later date, and any further proceedings will take place confidentially in arbitration rather than in a public court.
"Plaintiff (Grant), Defendant World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC, and Defendant Vincent K. McMahon (together, the “Parties”) stipulate and agree that this action and all claims pled herein are hereby dismissed with prejudice, but without prejudice as to the Parties’ rights to pursue their claims and defenses in arbitration in accordance with their agreement to arbitrate," documents read.
USA TODAY Sports has reached out to representatives for Grant and WWE. Representatives for McMahon declined to comment.
Lawsuit resulted in Vince McMahon's WWE departure
The motion will end a case that began in January 2024, nearly two years after reports McMahon paid upwards of $12 million to four women over a 16-year span to quiet allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity that ultimately led to McMahon's departure from TKO Group Holdings, parent company of WWE.
Grant alleged McMahon subjected her to "acts of extreme cruelty and degradation" and made her sign a non-disclosure agreement about their relationship for an agreed amount of $3 million. She stated the agreement was breached since she didn't receive full payment from McMahon, and sought to void it with the lawsuit, seeking a ruling that the agreement was invalid under state and federal law.
Former WWE employee John Laurinaitis was also named in the suit, but was later dropped from it. Current WWE star Brock Lesnar was mentioned as someone McMahon allegedly offered Grant to for sexual encounters.
Federal prosecutors investigated the claims while Grant sought several items regarding the case, such as her medical records. The case had yet to go to trial, and it appeared to unlikely to happen when, on June 11, all sides filed a motion of adjournment for an upcoming hearing. The parties wrote they were in "discussions regarding a potential agreement to arbitrate the dispute in confidential arbitration." That paved the road toward the lawsuit's pending dismissal.
The decision is seen as a major victory for McMahon, who has denied the allegations since the suit was filed. His side argued since the non-disclosure agreement was signed, the suit should be handled in private arbitration and avoid a trial.
McMahon has not publicly been involved with WWE since his resignation.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vince McMahon sex trafficking lawsuit to be dismissed, go to private arbitration
Continue reading...
