Vince McMahon WWE Lawsuit Gets New Deadline From Judge

The ongoing, disturbing lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE from former employee Janel Grant has received a new deadline from a judge.

United States District Judge Sarah F. Russell of Connecticut has made significant rulings in Grant’s ongoing lawsuit.

In a decision that denied Grant’s request for a status conference, Judge Russell confirmed that the legal stay on the case—which had been in place from June to December 2024—has officially ended.

This ruling means Grant now has until January 31 to file an amended complaint, incorporating any new arguments or information she deems necessary.

Grant’s lawsuit, first filed in January 2024, accuses McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexual assault, physical and emotional abuse, and sex trafficking, with WWE being held liable for enabling the alleged misconduct by top executives who were reportedly aware of the relationship between Grant and McMahon.

The defendants have firmly denied all the allegations.

Judge Russell also addressed the issue of arbitration. WWE and McMahon had sought to move the case to private arbitration, citing an arbitration clause in Grant’s non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with McMahon.

However, the judge rejected this motion for now, allowing the case to proceed in court. The court will revisit the arbitration question after Grant files her amended complaint.

If Grant fails to meet the January 31 deadline, the issue of arbitration will be reconsidered.

Grant’s legal team has argued that recent developments in McMahon’s legal troubles—particularly his settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—highlight the need to amend their complaint.

Vince McMahon, who left his longtime perch at WWE under a cloud last year, is paying more than $1.7 million to settle charges from the SEC alleging he failed to disclose hush money payments to two women https://t.co/wkDcf0xA1C

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) January 10, 2025

The SEC charged McMahon with failing to disclose two settlement agreements totaling $10.5 million, which were made with women who had accused him of sexual misconduct.

The SEC’s action has led Grant’s attorneys to claim that McMahon’s actions further demonstrate the illegal nature of the NDA he allegedly coerced Grant into signing.

According to Grant’s legal team, these new revelations show that the arbitration clause in the NDA is invalid, and the case must be heard in court.

The SEC’s charges stem from McMahon’s failure to report these settlements to WWE’s board or auditors, resulting in significant misstatements in the company’s financial filings for 2018 and 2021.

As part of a settlement agreement, McMahon was required to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimburse WWE approximately $1.33 million.

In light of these charges, Grant’s lawyers issued a pointed statement, calling McMahon’s actions a blatant disregard for the law, including the alleged human trafficking that is central to Grant’s claims.

They argue that McMahon’s long history of misconduct, now confirmed by the SEC, further supports their case for a full public hearing.

At the same time, Grant’s team anticipates that the ongoing criminal investigation into McMahon’s actions may yield additional evidence that could strengthen their case in civil court.

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