On November 3, 2017, former World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) wrestlers filed an amended complaint for their concussion suit against WWE. The amended complaint is in response to a Connecticut federal judge allowing the wrestlers last month to file more succinct pleadings, despite stating she was more inclined to side with WWE. The case goes back to 2015 when WWE faced several lawsuits that alleged WWE concealed long-term health risks of repeated blows to the head and increased that danger by misleading injured wrestlers into …
Continue ReadingTag: Connecticut
WWE Rings the Bell Again, Asks Judge to Throw More Brain-Injury Claims Out
On Thursday, September 8, 2016, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. requested that a Connecticut federal judge preemptively disallow four former professional wrestlers from bringing any claims relating to brain injuries spawning from their times working to the entertainment company. According to the WWE, the latest round of ex-pro wrestlers can’t bring such claims because they are timebarred. Connecticut has a three year statute of limitations for any general tort claim; as well, it recognizes a two year statutory time period for potential plaintiffs to bring suit …
Continue ReadingWWE Seeks to ‘Knock-Out’ Final Remnants of Concussion Suit
As was recently affirmed, in the WWE’s concussion saga there only remain lawsuits by former professional wrestlers claiming the WWE committed fraud by failing to inform its athletes of the dangers of concussions and other brain trauma. Now, the WWE seeks to toss those remaining suits in a motion for summary judgement urging a Connecticut federal court to dismiss the allegations and end the legal battle.
On August 1, 2016 the WWE moved for summary judgement on the final remaining claim — fraud — …
Continue ReadingConnecticut Federal Court Reaffirms ‘Smack Down’ of Concussion Suit Against the WWE
On July 21, 2016 Connecticut Federal Judge Vanessa L. Bryant handed down a partial win for the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. in the concussion lawsuit against them. Specifically, the judge denied the ex-wrestlers motion to reconsider the previously dismissed complaints that the WWE fraudulently handled the risk of concussions with their athletes.
This case stemmed from a consolidated class action by many former wrestlers alleging fraud by omission when the WWE knew of the risk of concussions and failed to do anything about it. Particularly, …
Continue ReadingFormer WWE Wrestler Insists He Can Appeal Dismissal of His Concussion Claim
While concussion litigation against World Wresting Entertainment has been ongoing for years, at the end of March, a Connecticut federal judge dismissed many of the proposed class action claims asserted against the wrestling enterprise. A couple of years ago, several former wrestlers brought suit against WWE alleging that it knew of and concealed the risks associated with brain injuries. However, in deciding WWE’s motion to dismiss, the court pointed out that the wrestlers were “financially compensated to engage in an activity in which physical violence …
Continue ReadingLegalizing Fantasy Sports May Wreck Tribal Relations
While lobbying for legislation has proven to be the path for Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), a new twist has been added to the story. On April 18, 2016, Connecticut Attorney General George Jepson released an opinion that could severely jeopardize, or complicate, oncoming DFS legislation. In an opinion letter to Connecticut senators, Jepson stated, “There is a substantial risk that the passage of such legislation could jeopardize the State’s revenue-sharing arrangements with the Tribes.”
Connecticut had proposed legalizing fantasy sports with an 8.75 percent …
Continue ReadingFormer Wrestler Argues Against WWE Forum Shopping in Concussion Suit
On Friday, October 30, 2015, retired professional wrestler “Billy Jack” Haynes filed a supplemental brief in a Connecticut federal courthouse in opposition to a motion filed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) concerning which law should be applied in litigation. Haynes originally brought suit in Oregon against the WWE to recover for concussion-related injuries he sustained while wrestling for the company and which have continued to affect him well into retirement. Haynes’ suit was consolidated with a number of similar actions brought by former wrestlers against …
Continue Reading