Janel Grant can move forward with civil lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE after stay expires

Six months after Janel Grant's lawsuit was stayed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), her lawsuit can now move forward. The DOJ requested she pause her case against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE due to an ongoing federal grand jury investigation that began in 2023.

According to a press release from Grant’s team on Wednesday night, “the United States Southern District for New York informed us that they will be letting the stay expire on Janel Grant’s lawsuit against former WWE CEO Vince McMahon, WWE executive John Laurinaitis, and WWE for sexual assault and human trafficking. This decision allows Ms. Grant to proceed with her civil charges against McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE while federal prosecutors continue their criminal investigation.”

Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, released the following statement: 

"We are pleased that prosecutors for the Southern District of New York have concluded that they can continue their criminal investigation while we bring forward new evidence in our civil case about the sexual exploitation carried out by Janel Grant’s abusers. For the last six months, Ms. Grant has patiently waited to hold Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE accountable for the sex trafficking and abuse she endured at the company on a near daily basis. Her wait is over, and we now look forward to sharing Ms. Grant’s story.”

In January of this year, Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE. She alleged sex trafficking, civil battery, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and violation of the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act (TVPA). In April, both McMahon and Laurinaitis sought arbitration. 

Janel Grant files bill of discovery against doctor who treated her 

While the case was stayed, Grant filed a bill of discovery against Dr. Carlon Colker. Colker was McMahon’s payroll and Grant alleges that she was coerced into being treated by Colker at McMahon’s behest. She alleges that she was given unknown substances intravenously and by ingesting them. 

She has been trying to obtain her full electronic medical records, billing records, along with any communications between McMahon and Colker regarding her. Both McMahon and Colker tried to block the bill of discovery from proceeding. On August 6, 2024, McMahon’s attempt was blocked. 

Grant says that she was seen at least 60 times by Colker between 2019 and 2022. During a press conference related to the filing, Callis said that while Grant sought treatment, she was getting worse. Grant suffered abuse on “a nearly daily basis for more than two years.” 

McMahon, WWE face another lawsuit

In late October, a new lawsuit from five former “Ring Boys” was filed against McMahon, Linda McMahon, WWE, and their parent company TKO alleging they knew about sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of former ring announcer, Mel Phillips. Phillips died in 2012. 

A press release from the law firm DiCello Levitt and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy says the abuse happened at wrestling venues, hotel rooms, and other locations in plain sight. They allege that all the defendants were “fully aware of the systemic and pervasive abuse and did nothing to prevent or stop it.” The lawsuit goes into horrific details about the abuse all five men say they experienced when they were minors.

On December 6, a federal judge granted a stay on the lawsuit. Four days prior, WWE filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit due to State court jurisdictions along with the demand of damages exceeding the $75,000 limit. United States District Judge James K. Bredar ruled in favor of the stay. The stay is pending a ruling by the Supreme Court of Maryland in regards to the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 (CVA). 

According to ABC News, the CVA could repeal the statute of limitations in certain civil actions relating to child sexual abuse, according to Maryland House Bill 1. This includes sexual abuse and any other sexual conduct that is a crime.The “Ring Boys” lawsuit was filed in Maryland. A decision by the high court is expected by August 31, 2025. 

Linda has been nominated to President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet as the education secretary. Since mainstream media and Trump’s team have been made aware of the current “Ring Boys” lawsuit, her nomination has been called into question. Trump is a WWE Hall of Famer and Linda served as his administrator of Small Business Administration during his first presidency. In 2019, she resigned to join the pro-Trump Super PAC, America First Action as chair. The Super PAC worked to get Trump re-elected in 2020.