Judge allows "Ring Boys" lawsuit moves to discovery for most plaintiffs

The “Ring Boys” lawsuit against WWE, TKO Holdings Group, and Vince and Linda McMahon is being allowed to move to discovery by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Dicello Levitt, the firm representing the prosecution, provided legal briefings in refernce to this active case.

The lawsuit alleges that ring announcer, Mel Phillips, sexually abused eight plantiffs, referred to as John Does 1-8 in the filing. Phillips died in 2012. Several “Ring Boys” alleged abuse by Pat Patterson and/or Terrance “Terry Garvin” Joyal. Patterson died in 2020 and Joyal died in 1998.

Judge James K. Bredar is allowing seven of eight plaintiffs’ claims to move forward because they “plausibly pled that adults around them – including Vince and Linda McMahon – had relevant knowledge and relevant times, and that they could and should have taken action to prevent the abuse and the harm that ensued.”

The judge goes on to say that not all of the Plaintiffs' claims survive the first stage of the case, but many do. John Doe 7, whose claims date back to the 1970s, was not allowed to move forward, but he may refile. The judge says Doe 7 “has not alleged with adequate specificity…that WWE knew of the need to control Phillips in advance of the abuse Phillips allegedly committed against him.”

In the 48-page filing, the judge also ruled that allegations from John Doe 2 and John Doe 6 can proceed against Linda. She is the current U.S. Secretary of Education. 

Through discovery, parties can obtain information from one another that can support their claims. The defendants are aware of the identities of the John Does. Judge Bredar ruled that the parties will have to meet to decide if they can keep using the pseudonyms.  

WWE and TKO still named as defendants

There have been attempts to dismiss the case based on it being filed in Maryland. Judge Bredar agreed with the Plaintiffs since they allege many instances of abuse happened in the state of Maryland when WWE was holding shows. Earlier this year, Maryland upheld The Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023, which allowed this “Ring Boys” lawsuit to move forward.

In the legal documentation provided by Dicello Levitt, the judge also ruled that when TKO merged with WWE, they took on WWE’s legal responsibilities; therefore, TKO can be sued along with WWE. The judge pointed to Linda’s motion to dismiss, in which she describes TKO as “WWE’s successor company”.

Greg Gutzler, leading litigator for the “Ring Boys”, said in a statement that “this ruling affirms that our clients’ allegations deserve to be heard in court and marks a significant step forward for these survivors. Through discovery, we will obtain documents and testimony that shed further light on who knew about this terrible abuse and how it was allowed to persist. We look forward to uncovering the truth and pursuing accountability for survivors who have waited decades to tell their stories.”

Another partner with DiCello Levitt, Adam Prom, added “we will fight vigorously to secure the justice they were denied for decades and pursue redress from those who failed to protect them.”

Vince McMahon and WWE are currently facing a lawsuit from shareholders in relation to the merger with Endeavor to create TKO Holdings. Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon is still being litigated.