Today DiCello Levitt and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy filed a lawsuit against TKO Group Holdings, Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and WWE on behalf of five former “ring boys.”
Mel Phillips allegedly groomed, used, and sexually abused the young ring boys in pro wrestling venues, hotel rooms, and other places, according to the lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to take any action to halt or prevent the abuse while being “fully aware” of it.
Thanks to the courage of our clients, we finally have a chance to hold accountable those who allowed and enabled the open, rampant sexual abuse of these young boys,” stated Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt.
It is really inexcusable that so many people knew about the Ring Boys’ sexual assault but did nothing to stop it. The ring boys, who were all identified as John Does in the lawsuit, were said to have only “recently learned of the depth of knowledge that the McMahons and the WWE had about what happened to them and that sexual abuse in the company started at the top with the McMahons.”
The lawsuit was filed in 2024.Other considerations mentioned included the filing of Janel Grant’s sex trafficking case against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE, recent revisions in sex abuse legislation, and the potential to come forward without fear of reprisal from Vince or Linda McMahon.
The lawsuit’s plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial and a judgment exceeding $30,000 against TKO, Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and WWE.
Mel Phillips was employed by Terry Garvin, who oversaw the WWE ring boy program. Terry Garvin and Mel Phillips were accused in 1992 of sexually abusing and harassing young boys by Tom Cole, a former WWE ring boy from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Additionally, Pat Patterson was charged with making sexual advances at Cole during his time as a ring boy.
Terry Garvin, who was in charge of the WWE ring boy program, hired Mel Phillips. Tom Cole, a former WWE ring boy from the late 1980s and early 1990s, accused Terry Garvin and Mel Phillips of sexually assaulting and harassing young boys in 1992.
Pat Patterson was also accused of approaching Cole sexually while working as a ring boy.
Earlier this year, a former WWE ring boy from 1986 and 1987 accused Mel Phillips of inappropriate behavior.
Earlier this year, former WWE wrestler Nick Kiniski also claimed that Terry Garvin had approached him. Greg Gutzler, Mark DiCello, Bobby DiCello, Adam Prom, and Emma Bruder are the lawyers for DiCello Levitt. William H. Murphy Jr. is Murphy, Falcon & Murphy’s representative.
