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WWE and the McMahons Must Face Historic Ring-Boy Abuse Lawsuit
By Drooid · · How we work
WWE Faces Lawsuit Over Ring-Boy Abuse Claims
On October 20, U.S. District Judge James Bredar in Baltimore denied World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by eight anonymous former “ring boys.” The plaintiffs allege that, while working as part-time crew members in the 1980s and 1990s, they were recruited by ringside announcer Melvin Phillips and abused by him and two other WWE officials, both of whom are now deceased. The suit accuses WWE, former chairman Vince McMahon and former U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon of negligence, negligent hiring and retention, and seeks unspecified damages.
Legal Background: Maryland’s Child-Sex-Abuse Statute Change
The case proceeds under a 2023 Maryland law that eliminated a seven-year statute of limitations for sexual-abuse claims involving minors. The statute had previously been extended from three years in 2003. Plaintiffs’ counsel Greg Gutzler of DiCello Levitt emphasized this point in a statement.
Court Ruling and Official Reasoning
Judge Bredar concluded that the Maryland law serves a legitimate purpose of addressing barriers that child-sex-abuse victims face in court, describing WWE’s constitutional concerns as “overblown.” He wrote that plaintiffs can still be required to produce material facts, documents and witnesses for cross-examination, despite the challenges of fading memories and unavailable witnesses. The ruling leaves the case, Doe v. World Wrestling Entertainment, No. 1:24-cv-03487, to move forward in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This ruling is a significant victory for our clients and for other survivors of childhood sexual abuse who have waited years for the opportunity to seek justice,” — Tuesday. Greg Gutzler, a lawyer for the plaintiffs
The decision marks a significant procedural victory for the former ring boys and underscores the expanding reach of state laws that revive decades-old abuse claims against high-profile organizations and individuals.