Janel Grant responds to WWE and Vince McMahon attempting to block her amended complaint.
In February, McMahon's team filed an opposition with a case to block Grant’s motion to amend her complaint, as they argued that her request was untimely and made in bad faith.
Wrestlenomics reports that, on March 7th, Janel Grant filed a reply brief in response to the attempts by WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis to block her amended complaint. Grant argues that the federal district court in Connecticut should allow the amended complaint to the the one that is litigated. Grant also argues that developments that have emerged since her original filing in January 2024 should be considered the Securities and Exchange Commission's findings about McMahon's undisclosed settlements.
Grant also rejected McMahon and WWE claiming that she misused the court to generate publicity. She stated that she initially withheld certain details out of concern for the active criminal investigation into McMahon. Grant's attorneys argue that, now that the stay on the lawsuit has been lifted, she is allowed to present a more detailed picture of the alleged abuse.
Grant's attorneys also dispute that the SEC's findings about McMahon, which his attorneys argued were about financial disclosure violations, referenced the NDA involved in the lawsuit and McMahon's attempts to conceal other settlements.
Furthermore, Grant's attorneys reiterated their past statement that Dr. Carlon Colker admitted to withholding Grant's medical records, and they claim that this supported her allegations that McMahon controlled some aspects of her life.
Ann Callis, Janel Grant's attorney, issued the following statement, via Wrestlenomics:
Ms. Grant is grateful and empowered by the support she has received from the community and looks forward to holding Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE accountable for facilitating the sex trafficking and abuse she endured at the company.
Additionally, Grant's attorneys assert that the updated grant provides more details on the alleged coercion that was alleged in the original complaint, and they argue that the court should hear them.
From Wrestlenomics:
Grant’s lawyers additionally argue that her updated complaint provides greater detail on the alleged coercion she endured, which the court should hear, stating that the amendments serve “to explain the extreme and prolonged abuse Plaintiff was withstanding with greater particularity. The coercion surrounding the agreement and arbitration clause is undeniably relevant to this Court’s assessment of Defendants’” intention to move the case to arbitration.
Moving forward, Judge Sarah F. Russell will determine whether Grant will be allowed to proceed with her amended complaint. If Russell denies her motion, the lawsuit will remain in its original form, as filed in January 2024.
