Claims against WWE, TKO, Vince and Linda McMahon in the “ring boys” child sexual abuse case are going forward.
Judge James K. Bredar has ruled that plaintiffs plausibly alleged WWE’s duty and knowledge, and that claims against the defendants may move forward.
DiCello Levitt, together with Murphy, Falcon & Murphy represent the survivors in the case,
“This ruling affirms that our clients’ allegations deserve to be heard in court and marks a significant step forward for these survivors,” said Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt who leads the litigation. “Through discovery, we will obtain documents and testimony that shed further light on who knew about this terrible abuse and how it was allowed to persist. We look forward to uncovering the truth and pursuing accountability for survivors who have waited decades to tell their stories.”
“For too long, these survivors carried this burden alone,” added DiCello Levitt Partner Adam Prom. “We will fight vigorously to secure the justice they were denied for decades and pursue redress from those who failed to protect them.”
The plaintiffs in the case allege that WWE employed underaged boys to assist with WWE’s wrestling events. It is claimed that these boys were groomed, exploited and sexually abused by WWE’s ringside announcer, Melvin Phillips Jr., and another WWE executive.
The alleged abuse occurred not only at wrestling venues but also in hotels used in connection with WWE’s events, often in plain sight of WWE executives and wrestlers.
The plaintiffs claim that despite widespread knowledge of the behavior, WWE leadership at the time, which included Vince and Linda McMahon, failed to properly intervene or prevent the abuse, which allowed it to continue.
