Ann Callis, one of the lawyers representing Janel Grant in her civil case against Vince McMahon, shared that Grant’s lawsuit has inspired other women in wrestling to share their stories of abuse.
Callis acknowledged Grant’s courage, noting, “Janel has been courageous in speaking out about her situation.” Callis added that Grant hopes to set an example for others, creating a safe space for those feeling isolated to come forward. Since then, Callis has received multiple contacts and is currently vetting each case.
While others have reached out following Grant’s case, Callis stated that her federal civil suit against McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE is paused until December 11, a result of an FBI request related to a separate criminal investigation involving McMahon.
In a conversation with SEScoops, Callis addressed the broader implications of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and their potential to silence victims, highlighting that they have been “weaponized.” Recent laws, including the Speak Out Act of 2022, now prevent NDAs from prohibiting disclosures of sexual harassment or assault.
In 2021, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act was also passed, aiming to prevent NDAs signed at job onset from being used to silence harassment claims. Callis explained that while these laws don’t automatically void existing NDAs, they prevent future cases from using them to silence allegations of harassment or assault.
The American Bar Association notes that 82% of U.S. employees have signed arbitration agreements upon starting a new job. These agreements, often embedded in NDAs, dictate how disputes are handled. Before the pause on McMahon’s case, his legal team and WWE filed a motion to determine if Grant’s claims should be handled in arbitration, as per her NDA.
Callis pointed out that arbitration clauses in employee contracts are not always upheld, encouraging employees to seek justice in court, especially with new legislation offering greater protections. She acknowledged the challenges employees face, saying, “When you’re faced with a multi-national corporation or a multi-billion dollar company, there’s a lot of roadblocks.” However, she feels recent case law provides reason for hope.
Most wrestlers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, even though the Department of Labor criteria often align them more with employee status. Callis noted that courts frequently find they are actually employees, despite some companies labeling them otherwise.
During the stay in Grant’s federal case, she pursued additional legal action, filing a motion for discovery in Connecticut Superior Court against Dr. Carlon Colker and his company, Peak Wellness.
Meanwhile, Vince and Linda McMahon, along with WWE, were recently named in a Maryland lawsuit filed by survivors of the 1980s ring boy scandal, alleging the company failed to protect young ring boys from predators.
Linda McMahon, despite her involvement in this case, has joined Donald Trump’s 2024 transition team as he prepares for a return to the White House in January, while Vince is reportedly exploring a new venture in entertainment.
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