Vince McMahon & WWE Make Same Demand In New Court Filing
Vince McMahon and WWE have both submitted new court filings in the lawsuit filed by former employee Janel Grant.
Almost one year ago, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, alleging sex trafficking and sexual abuse. The suit resulted in McMahon resigning from all positions in TKO, meaning that WWE has been operating without a McMahon’s involvement for the first time in its history.
The lawsuit was paused in June at the request of the US Government to allow federal prosecutors to hold their own investigation into claims made against McMahon. It eventually resumed on December 12th, allowing Grant to proceed with her civil charges against the company, McMahon, and Laurinaitis. Now, WWE and McMahon have submitted new filings adding to previous requests to move the case to arbitration.
Vince McMahon & WWE File For Arbitration
On December 23rd, McMahon’s attorney, Jessica T Rosenberg submitted the following request:
Defendant Vincent K. McMahon, by and through his undersigned attorneys, respectfully moves this Court for an order compelling arbitration of this matter pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 3, 4, for the reasons set forth more fully in the accompanying memorandum of law and Declaration of Vincent K. McMahon. Defendant McMahon further moves the Court for such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
On the same day, WWE’s attorney Daniel J Toal submitted a similar request:
“Defendant World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (“WWE”) respectfully moves this Court for an order compelling arbitration of this matter pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 3, 4, for the reasons set forth more fully in the accompanying Memorandum of Law and Statement of Undisputed Material Facts. WWE filed its original Motion to Compel Arbitration on May 14, 2024. ECF No. 61. On June 11, 2024, the Court entered an order staying this action until December 11, 2024, and, in doing so, denied all pending motions to compel arbitration “without prejudice to renewal within two weeks of any future order of the Court lifting the stay.”
“ECF No. 68. The stay expired on December 11, 2024, and accordingly, WWE hereby files a renewed and updated Motion to Compel Arbitration, with supporting memorandum of law and statement of facts. WWE respectfully requests that the Court schedule oral argument for this motion, and such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.”
Supporting documents included a Memorandum of Law which referred to a contract signed by the parties in 2022 agreeing that disagreements would be arbitrated.
“In January 2022, Plaintiff, Defendant McMahon, and Defendant World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (“WWE”) entered a contract that requires “any dispute arising under or out of” that agreement to be arbitrated:
“[A]ll parties hereto agree that the sole and exclusive legal method to resolve any and all disputes and/or controversies is to commence binding arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act pursuant to the procedures of the American Arbitration Association and to do so by sealed proceedings which preserve the confidential and private nature of this Agreement.”
As with the request for arbitration, WWE filed a similar Memorandum of Law referring to the agreement.
While her team have not responded to the most recent filings, Janel Grant’s representative has issued a response to allegations against former WWE employee Lee Fitting.