Education Sec. Linda McMahon Fights WWE Abuse Lawsuit

ByElena Carter

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging she and her husband Vince McMahon negligently allowed sexual abuse of minors during their time leading WWE. The filing, submitted Monday, argues the case should be thrown out because McMahon lacks sufficient ties to Maryland, where five former “ring boys” filed their claims under the state’s Child Victims Act.

“What stands out from the Complaint, however, is that it lacks: any basis for personal jurisdiction over Defendants in Maryland, and any plausible claim for relief,” McMahon’s attorneys stated in court documents, according to Post Wrestling. The jurisdictional challenge could severely limit the plaintiffs’ ability to pursue their claims in other states with stricter statutes of limitations.

Photo Source: Gage Skidmore/Linda McMahon/WikipediaCommons

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Allegations from the 1980s

The lawsuit centers on allegations that former WWF ring announcer Mel Phillips, who died in 2012, sexually abused underage boys throughout the 1980s while they worked as “ring boys” assisting with event preparations. The five anonymous plaintiffs filed their case in Maryland, where a 2023 law eliminated time limits for child sexual abuse civil claims – a provision recently upheld by the state’s Supreme Court.

In a signed declaration, McMahon stated she recently learned the identities of the plaintiffs after Judge James K. Bredar allowed defendants access to their personal information. “To the best of my knowledge and recollection, I have never met or communicated with John Does 1-5. Until this lawsuit, I was unaware of their allegations against me or anyone else named in the complaint,” McMahon wrote, as reported by Wrestling Inc.

Distancing from Responsibility

McMahon’s filing explicitly denies any supervisory role over Phillips during his WWE employment. “I never personally supervised Phillips while he was employed by WWE, nor did I direct his activities,” she stated. “Phillips never acted as my agent. If Phillips traveled to Maryland and committed acts of sexual abuse while in Maryland, it was certainly not at my direction nor with my knowledge.”

The Education Secretary further distanced herself from the plaintiffs, stating: “I never personally employed any ‘Ring Boys,’ as that term is defined in the Complaint.” Her attorneys emphasized that she has no substantial connection to Maryland beyond briefly holding a wrestling event license in 2004 and renting an apartment in the state from 1970 to 1972.

Coordinated Defense Strategy

Vince McMahon and WWE parent company TKO followed Linda McMahon’s lead with their own dismissal motions on similar jurisdictional grounds. TKO’s filing suggested the plaintiffs strategically chose Maryland “in an attempt to benefit from the recently enacted [Child Victims Act],” adding that “Plaintiffs’ claims do not belong here.”

TKO further argued that the plaintiffs failed to establish how the current company could be liable for alleged abuse that occurred when the business operated under different ownership as WWF. Vince McMahon’s filing characterized the lawsuit as an attempt to capitalize on Maryland’s CVA for “decades-old allegations” despite what his attorneys described as a lack of rightful jurisdiction.

“The Complaint attempts to manufacture such knowledge by spouting a broad catalog of negative press, unfounded opinions, speculation, and multi-level hearsay from a hodgepodge of characters (many of whom are deceased),” Vince McMahon’s filing stated, concluding there was no way he could have foreseen Phillips’ alleged conduct.

Photo Source: kasasagiproductions@yahoo.com/DepositPhotos

High-Profile Legal Teams

Linda McMahon is represented by Laura Brevetti, former General Counsel for WWE, along with local counsel from Zuckerman Spaeder. Vince McMahon retained Jessica T. Rosenberg from Akin Gump, who also represents him in separate sex trafficking allegations from former WWE employee Janel Grant. WWE and TKO are defended by Daniel Toal of the Paul Weiss law firm, who is also handling the Grant case.

The five plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from DiCello Levitt, including Greg Gutzler. The case continues to progress through preliminary motions as Judge Bredar considers the jurisdictional challenges that could determine whether the substance of the abuse allegations will ever be heard in court.

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Elena Carter

Elena is a seasoned political analyst who dissects elections, policies, and power plays with precision. Her expertise lies in breaking down legislation, campaign strategies, and the impact of political shifts on global markets.

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