In an unexpected turn, John Laurinaitis, former WWE executive, has reached a confidential agreement in the lawsuit for sexual abuse allegations filed by a former employee. This agreement implies that Laurinaitis will collaborate with the plaintiff, Janel Grant, in her litigation against the company and former leader Vince McMahon.Grant’s representatives and Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, confirmed the settlement and cooperation agreement. According to sources, Laurinaitis possesses “evidence” against McMahon and WWE, although no specific details have been revealed.
A court document filed on Wednesday indicates that Grant and Laurinaitis agreed to dismiss the charges against Laurinaitis, but the charges against WWE and McMahon continue.In response, McMahon’s lawyer, Jessica Rosenberg, issued a statement.Their confidential settlement agreement is a crucial step in holding McMahon and WWE accountable, and in bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Representatives for Grant and Laurinaitis
Rosenberg added that a lawyer for Laurinaitis previously stated that the allegations in the lawsuit were unfounded.Grant sued WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis last year in a federal court in Connecticut. In the lawsuit, she alleges that McMahon forced her into sexual acts with him, Laurinaitis, and others, and claims that both men sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit also includes photos of sexual text messages that McMahon allegedly sent to Grant.McMahon, who has denied Grant’s allegations, resigned from his position as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, in January 2024, after Grant filed the lawsuit. He also resigned as WWE CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations similar to those in Grant’s lawsuit.The dismissal of John Laurinaitis as a defendant does not alter the facts of this case in any way. Vince McMahon never mistreated Janel Grant.
Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s attorney
