A federal judge in Maryland has rejected a constitutional challenge brought by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), its parent company TKO Group Holdings, Vince McMahon, and current U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, allowing a lawsuit involving allegations of child sexual abuse connected to WWE events during the 1980s and 1990s to move forward.
In a 26-page opinion issued Monday, October 19, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar upheld the application of Maryland’s Child Victims Act of 2023, which eliminated the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving childhood sexual abuse.
The defendants argued that applying the law to allegations dating back approximately 40 years violated their constitutional right to due process, particularly because several individuals connected to the allegations have since died. However, Bredar rejected that argument, finding that Maryland lawmakers had a legitimate reason to eliminate the filing deadlines for childhood sexual abuse claims.
The lawsuit, known as the “Ring Boys” case, involves seven men who allege they were sexually abused as minors while helping set up wrestling rings and performing other duties for WWE, then known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), during the 1980s and 1990s.
According to reporting by Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling, all seven plaintiffs allege abuse by former ring announcer and ring crew chief Mel Phillips Jr. One plaintiff also alleges abuse by former WWE executive Pat Patterson, while another alleges sexual harassment by former executive Terry Garvin. All three men died before the lawsuit was filed.
The plaintiffs allege that WWE leadership, including Vince and Linda McMahon, knew or should have known about the alleged abuse but failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it. The defendants have denied the central allegations.
Although the alleged abuse occurred in multiple states, all seven plaintiffs claim that at least some of the incidents took place in Maryland, making the state’s Child Victims Act central to the litigation.
Maryland’s Supreme Court upheld the Child Victims Act under the state constitution in 2025. The defendants subsequently challenged its application under the U.S. Constitution, arguing that allowing decades-old claims to proceed would make it difficult to mount an effective defense because witnesses have died, memories have faded and evidence may no longer be available.
In Monday’s ruling, Bredar acknowledged those difficulties but determined that they did not make the law unconstitutional.
“The Maryland General Assembly created its statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims and, in response to a legitimate and pressing issue, decided to alter it in a rational way,” Bredar wrote.
The decision follows a December 2025 ruling in which the court largely denied earlier motions to dismiss, reducing the number of plaintiffs from eight to seven. According to Thurston, claims by two plaintiffs remain against Linda McMahon, while all seven plaintiffs’ cases continue against Vince McMahon, WWE and TKO.
“This ruling is a significant victory for our clients and for other survivors of childhood sexual abuse who have waited years for the opportunity to seek justice,” said Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt, one of the law firms representing the plaintiffs.
“Trauma does not follow a legal deadline, and Maryland’s Child Victims Act recognizes that reality,” Gutzler added.
As reported by Thurston, the case can now move toward discovery, during which evidence is exchanged and witnesses may be questioned under oath. A court teleconference is scheduled for November 17 to establish future deadlines, with any potential trial still at least several months away.
The lawsuit remains ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Monday’s decision addresses the constitutionality of applying the Child Victims Act to the case and does not determine whether the alleged abuse occurred or whether the defendants are legally responsible.
