Former 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 …

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The Brain of Former WWE Wrestler Chyna Donated for CTE Research

On Wednesday, April 20, 2016, former WWE superstar Chyna passed away at the age of 46. After her death, her manager, Anthony Anzaldo, made a statement that her brain has been sent for research to see whether she was suffering from a brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

Although the cause of her death is unknown, Anzaldo said they are donating her brain because they “want to know what made Chyna tick.”

Chyna’s real name was Joan Marie Laurer, she was known …

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Former Wrestler and WWE Spar Over Royalties

Pro wrestler Rene Goguen brought a class action law suit against World Wrestling Entertainment in Connecticut federal court on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. This suit arises just days after WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest event of the year. The complaint alleges that wrestlers should be paid royalties from streaming services, such as the World Wrestling Entertainment Network (WWEN) and Netflix.

WWE’s outside counsel, Jerry McDevitt, is not concerned, stating the complaint lacks merit. According to McDevitt, Goguen and other wrestlers signed contracts which preclude the wrestlers from …

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An Insight into Understanding CTE and its Role in NFL Concussion Litigation

As another NFL season wrapped up over the weekend with the Denver Broncos defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, fans might be wondering just how they are going to fill their football-less void for the next six months. Well, the NFL might actually be in the news more heavily this offseason compared to years past — although not necessarily for a good reason. Concussions, head trauma, CTE — these are words being tossed around on almost a daily basis from every news outlet …

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WWE, Discovery Going Forward in Concussion Suit

United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant of the Connecticut federal circuit lifted the discovery stay in a concussion lawsuit against the WWE on Friday, January 15, 2016. While many similar lawsuits against the wrestling company were transferred and consolidated before Judge Bryant over the last few years, the stay was lifted here only in regards to the claims filed by former wrestlers Evan Singleton and Vito LoGrasso.

Discovery will be limited, however, to allow the plaintiffs the opportunity to determine whether the WWE knew …

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Former Wrestler’s Widow Urges Court to Continue Wrongful Death Suit Against WWE

Nelson Frazier, Jr.’s widow filed a response brief to World Wrestling Entertainment’s motion to dismiss on Wednesday January 6, 2016, arguing that her complaint sufficiently claims the wrestling body concealed the potential risks of head injuries from their entertainers, which led to her husband’s death.

The WWE made a motion to dismiss in December, claiming that Frazier’s widow — who originally filed suit against them in February 2015, asserting a wrongful death action, amongst other things —  failed to sufficiently explain a causal connection between …

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Former 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 …

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Hulk Hogan Takes First Bout Against Gawker

On Wednesday, October 21, 2015, a Florida state judge granted former WWE star Hulk Hogan the opportunity to search private electronic communications of employees of Gawker Media LLC, which is being sued by Hogan for intentionally leaking confidential and racist remarks made by the wrestler. The incident stems from the $100 million lawsuit filed by Hogan for Gawker’s role in allegedly releasing and covering the publication of a sex tape involving Hogan in 2012.

The famed-wrestler believes that employees of Gawker intentionally released information that …

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WWE Attorneys Ask Court for Sanctions, Grapple Over Proper Actions in CTE Lawsuit

On Friday, October 16th, 2015, World Wrestling Entertainment filed a motion in Connecticut federal court, seeking sanctions and other penalties against a set of attorneys from personal injury attorneys near Festus representing former WWF performer Matt Osborne. Osborne created and popularized the character of Doink the Clown, a staple of early to mid-1990s professional wrestling, until he was fired by management in 1993 for drug-related issues. Following Osborne’s death by overdose in 2013, his family hired a team of attorneys to represent them on behalf …

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CTE Litigaton Continues: WWE Sued On Behalf Of Late Wrestler

A lawsuit was filed on Friday, June 26, on behalf of Matthew Osborne, better known by his WWE alter ego Doink the Clown. Osborne passed away on June 28, 2013 after accidentally overdosing on morphine and hydrocodone. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Dallas, Texas, alleging that Osborne sustained traumatic head injuries while in the WWE that resulted in depression and drug use, and ultimately lead to his death.

More specifically, the lawsuit alleges the following:

WWE took inadequate steps to correct …

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