WWE has been granted a motion to stay the lawsuit filed by five former “ring boys” who allege they were sexually abused by Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin in the 1980s. The lawsuit, which also includes accusations that Vince and Linda McMahon were aware of the abuse but failed to intervene, was filed in October 2024. However, the case has been temporarily paused.
Judge James K. Bredar ruled in favor of WWE’s motion, agreeing to stay the lawsuit until the Maryland Supreme Court issues a ruling on the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act (CVA). This new law, passed in Maryland in 2023, removes the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases and allows victims to sue non-perpetrator defendants if their negligence contributed to the abuse. However, the Maryland Supreme Court is currently reviewing the law in a separate case, with a decision expected by August 31, 2025.
The judge noted that the plaintiffs’ claims rely entirely on the CVA, meaning the validity of the lawsuit hinges on whether the Maryland Supreme Court upholds the law. Until the court rules, the lawsuit will remain on hold.
The judge wrote, “The Complaint raises allegations regarding sexual abuse committed in the 1980s, and the timeliness of the claims depends on the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 (‘CVA’). As Defendants [WWE] explain, the viability of Plaintiffs’ [the ring boys’] claims ‘depends entirely on the constitutionality of the CVA’”.
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