Vince & Linda McMahon File Oppositions To Ring Boy Plaintiffs’ Request To Uphold Anonymity In Lawsuit
The latest update on the suit.
Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon have filed oppositions to the ring boy plaintiffs’ request to maintain anonymity in the ongoing lawsuit.
In a write-up from Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics, Vince and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon are asking a federal judge to require that the former ring boys who are suing them to litigate under their birth names. They are arguing that the anonymity would unfairly hurt their ability to defend themselves against the allegations as the case moves towards the discovery phase.
On behalf of the seven former ring boys, the plaintiffs filed a motion in early January to ask the court to allow them to continue using ‘John Doe’ pseudonyms and to enter a protective order to limit how their identities can be shared during discovery. Earlier in the case, their identities were disclosed to the defense. The ring boys are now in their 50s. The plaintiffs argue that the public disclosure of the ring boys’ names would re-expose them to psychological harm, trauma, and unwanted attention.
The plaintiffs allege that they were sexually abused when they were children, mainly by former WWF ring announcer Mel Phillips, who passed away in 2012. The ring boys claim that Linda and Vince McMahon were negligent in not preventing the alleged abuse. Linda and Vince have denied all responsibility and awareness.
The McMahons filed oppositions on January 26th that were largely aligned. WWE and TKO have yet to file an opposition and are not expected to do so. The plaintiffs added that the corporate entities have taken no stance on whether anonymity should continue.
The McMahons’ attorneys have brought up the idea of limited confidentiality orders that the judge may consider.
The plaintiffs have until February 6th to respond to the opposition.
In both Linda and Vince’s arguments, they cited recent cases involving Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs and Kevin Spacey, where the plaintiffs were required to proceed under their real names. Those decisions were made in New York, but the ring boys’ lawsuit is unfolding in Maryland, and the Maryland federal court is not required to follow those same precedents but may consider them.
The anonymity situation will be decided on in February at the earliest, after the plaintiffs’ deadline to send in a reply.
