Law360 Reports on Key Win for Janel Grant in WWE Lawsuit
05/12/2025Law360 reported on a significant development for Janel Grant, a former WWE staffer who has accused ex-CEO Vince McMahon of sexual misconduct and trafficking. A federal judge has allowed her to expand her complaint to include a recent federal settlement involving McMahon and the SEC.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Sarah Russell approved Grant’s request to amend her complaint to reference WWE’s January 2025 settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. That settlement revealed the company failed to report $10.5 million in payments McMahon made to Grant and another woman related to misconduct claims.
This decision marks a major step forward for Grant, who argues the SEC settlement supports her claims that McMahon and WWE attempted to cover up abuse and financial improprieties. Her amended complaint, filed the same day, says McMahon bypassed WWE’s internal financial controls and concealed payments from the company’s board, resulting in inaccurate financial filings.
The court also denied arguments from the defense that the amendments were filed too late or in bad faith and rejected their claim that the new details wouldn’t affect the case’s progression. Although discovery is currently paused while the court weighs a motion to send the matter into arbitration, Grant’s legal team is prepared to continue pressing forward.
The ruling gives Grant’s case new momentum, reinforcing her allegations with federal findings and increasing public scrutiny of WWE’s handling of misconduct at the highest levels.
Grant is represented by HSSK’s David A. Slossberg, Erica O. Nolan and Julie Pinette and Ann E. Callis, Eric D. Holland and Gregory R. Jones of the Holland Law Firm LLC.