Janel Grant To Amend Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Against Vince McMahon, WWE, & John Laurinaitis

Janel Grant, through her attorneys, is set to amend the lawsuit she filed against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, a report from Brandon Thurston for POST Wrestling has revealed. It is unknown what changes will be made to the lawsuit but the modifications are expected to be filed on January 15, 2025. Grant can amend her lawsuit once without permission under federal court rules.

Grant's attorney Ann Callis signalled their intentions to change the lawsuit in new court filings on Thursday, January 2. Emails within the new filings show Callis informed all defence attorneys on December 16 of Grant's plan to amend the lawsuit. Vince McMahon's lead attorney Jessica Rosenberg replied later that day, writing: "We will connect with our respective clients on this and get back to you shortly."

Callis' court filings noted Rosenberg's response as "on behalf of all Defendants", which POST Wrestling has suggested indicates there is coordination between Vince McMahon and WWE's legal teams on the lawsuit.

Following Rosenberg's initial reply on December 16, there was no follow-up from the defendants' attorneys until December 23 when Vince McMahon and WWE refiled motions to compel arbitration. John Laurinaitis then submitted a filing on Christmas Eve to state he agreed with McMahon and WWE's motion to compel arbitration

Janel Grant - a former WWE employee - filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis in January 2024. McMahon has been accused of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse. WWE have been accused of trying to sweep the allegations against McMahon under the rug, and John Laurinaitis has been accused of sexual assault.

The lawsuit was paused in June until December 11 following a request from the United States Department of Justice. The request was made as federal prosecutors for the Southern District of New York were investigating allegations of sex trafficking and sexual misconduct against Vince McMahon dating back to the 1980s. That investigation is believed to be still ongoing.

WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis within their filings to compel arbitration have argued the case should be moved to private mediation because Grant allegedly agreed in the nondisclosure agreement she signed with Vince McMahon in January 2022 that any disputes be settled in arbitration. In her initial lawsuit in January 2024, Grant claimed the NDA was unenforceable, listing the Speak Out Act and the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.

If a judge rules the case should be moved to arbitration, the lawsuit would head to private mediation.

Within the new filings to compel arbitration on December 23, McMahon's attorney signalled he could look to sue Grant for defamation.

"While it will be impossible to fully remedy the wrong of publicizing [Grant's] salacious and false allegations, Defendant McMahon will pursue appropriate remedies at the proper juncture," the attorney wrote.

Ann Callis has since issued the following statement to POST Wrestling:

"Vince McMahon's motion to compel arbitration is another desperate attempt to silence Janel Grant. We know the truth of his abusive and exploitative behavior against Ms. Grant, including sexual assault and human trafficking. Ms. Grant deserves the opportunity to tell her story and have her day in court."