Janel Grant's request to amend her lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE has been approved by Judge Sarah F. Russell.
On January 31, Janel Grant's team filed a motion to amend her lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE with new details in McMahon's alleged treatment of Grant. McMahon's team filed an opposition with a case to block Grant’s motion to amend her complaint, arguing that her request was untimely and made in bad faith.
Judge Russell said in her ruling, “It is certainly clear that some of Grant’s proposed amendments include facts she knew or should have known when she filed the Complaint. But her newly pleaded facts do not deprive Defendants of their ability to timely assert that her claims are subject to arbitration. I accordingly decline to find her amendments are in bad faith.”
From Grant's representatives (via POST Wrestling):
“We’re grateful that Judge Sarah Russell let the facts prevail today and granted our motion to amend Janel Grant’s complaint against Vince McMahon and WWE. The amended complaint is essential to understanding the extent of McMahon’s abuse and trafficking of Ms. Grant and the degree to which WWE failed her. We look forward to moving forward with Ms. Grant’s amended complaint and taking another step toward bringing the truth to light and ensuring Ms. Grant’s allegations against McMahon and WWE are taken seriously.
Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics reports the judge also approved of the defendants' motions to put discovery on hold, but when the defendants re-file their motions to move this case into arbitration (by June 13), Grant can ask for discovery related to the issue of arbitration.
In April, Grant filed an opposition against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE and their efforts to prevent discovery.
McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE have argued that the case should be heard in private arbitration. Grant's side is arguing that the defendants have not shown "good cause" to prevent discovery.
Fans can read Grant's amended complaint here.
Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit in January 2024 against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking. McMahon resigned from TKO/WWE following the lawsuit being filed.
Victim Resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Hours: Available 24 hours
1-800-656-4673
