A federal judge in Baltimore has rejected a bid by World Wrestling Entertainment and former executives Vince and Linda McMahon to dismiss a lawsuit claiming liability for decades-old sexual abuse allegations by former teenage ring boys.
Judge Rules Maryland Child Sex Abuse Law Constitutional
- US District Judge James Bredar ruled that a 2023 Maryland law eliminating the statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims is constitutional.
- The eight anonymous plaintiffs allege they were abused in the 1980s and 1990s by ringside announcer Melvin Phillips and two other WWE officials who have since died.
- Defendants argued the legislation violates due process and the US Constitution’s ban on ex post facto laws, an argument the court rejected.
Federal Court Rejects Dismissal Bid in Maryland Lawsuit
US District Judge James Bredar issued a ruling in Baltimore denying an attempt by World Wrestling Entertainment and former leaders Vince and Linda McMahon to throw out a 2024 civil complaint. The litigation centers on claims that teenage crew members recruited to work ring crew duties in the 1980s and 1990s suffered abuse by staff members, including ringside announcer Melvin Phillips.
The defendants contended that the 2023 Maryland statute enabling these decades-old claims violated the US Constitution’s due process guarantees and prohibitions against retroactive laws. Lawyers for the defendants maintained that mounting an effective defense is compromised by unavailable witnesses, faded memories, and missing evidence over the span of decades.
Judge denies WWE and McMahons’ effort to throw out ring boy lawsuit on U.S. constitutional challenge to Maryland Child Victims Acthttps://t.co/xohmr9jBp9 pic.twitter.com/aPoJf2ul3Y
Judge Bredar dismissed those concerns, writing that the legislation serves a valid objective in removing systemic legal hurdles faced by childhood sexual abuse survivors. The court noted that plaintiffs retain the burden of producing material facts, disputable documents, and witnesses subject to cross-examination.
| Legal Metric | Details in Doe v. WWE |
|---|---|
| Court Jurisdiction | US District Court for the District of Maryland |
| Alleged Timeframe | 1980s and 1990s |
| Statute of Limitations Change | 2023 Maryland law eliminating minor abuse time limits |
| Named Defendants | WWE, Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon |
Broader Legal Landscape Across State Jurisdictions
The Maryland statute at the center of the dispute emerged from legislative shifts following the #MeToo movement, designed to let older claims proceed by lifting time restrictions. Greg Gutzler, an attorney representing the plaintiffs from the firm DiCello Levitt, stated that the statutory change reflects the reality that trauma does not adhere to standard legal calendars.
While the Maryland Supreme Court previously upheld the state’s legislative changes against constitutional challenges, judicial outcomes remain split nationally. Top courts in jurisdictions including Maine, Utah, and Kentucky have invalidated similar retroactive extensions, ruling that expired statutes of limitations cannot be reversed.
The eight anonymous plaintiffs have accused the organization and the McMahons of negligence, alongside negligent hiring and retention practices, while seeking unspecified financial damages. Vince McMahon resigned from the organization in 2024 following separate allegations of sex trafficking and assault, which he has denied. Linda McMahon, currently serving as the US Secretary of Education after leading the Small Business Administration during the first Trump administration, has also denied prior knowledge of the alleged ring boy abuse.
🚨 FEDERAL JUDGE REJECTS WWE, McMAHONS’ CHALLENGE TO MARYLAND CHILD VICTIMS ACTA federal judge has rejected an attempt by WWE, its parent company TKO, Vince McMahon and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismiss a lawsuit alleging decades-old sexual abuse of underage…
Representatives for WWE, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the federal court’s decision.
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Judge rejects WWE, McMahon challenge to Maryland child abuse law, letting 'Ring Boys' case proceed https://t.co/cKjnhARORx
