A federal judge in Maryland rejected a constitutional challenge from WWE, TKO Group Holdings, Vince McMahon, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, allowing a multi-plaintiff child sexual abuse lawsuit brought by former ring attendants to proceed toward discovery following an October 19, 2026 ruling.
U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar Rejects Constitutional Challenge to Maryland Law
The federal litigation known as the Ring Boys case cleared a major hurdle on Monday, October 19, 2026, when U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar issued a 26-page opinion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The ruling rejected an effort by WWE, its parent company TKO, Vince McMahon, and current U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to have the lawsuit thrown out on the grounds that the state law underpinning it violates the U.S. Constitution.
Defendants had argued that Maryland’s Child Victims Act of 2023 violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause by reviving decades-old claims that are difficult to defend against, alongside the Constitution’s ban on ex post facto laws. Judge Bredar dismissed both arguments, ruling that the law is constitutional as applied to the case.
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.
The court acknowledged the practical evidentiary hurdles of litigating decades-old events, noting that the revival of decades-old allegations poses difficult evidentiary issues for both parties. However, the judge emphasized that living witnesses and alternative evidentiary sources remain available.
🚨 FEDERAL JUDGE REJECTS WWE, McMAHONS’ CHALLENGE TO MARYLAND CHILD VICTIMS ACTA federal judge has rejected an attempt by WWE, its parent company TKO, Vince McMahon and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismiss a lawsuit alleging decades-old sexual abuse of underage…
Seven Anonymous Plaintiffs and the Historic Allegations Against Ring Staff
Filed initially in October 2024, the lawsuit involves seven men proceeding under John Doe pseudonyms. The plaintiffs allege they were minors in the 1980s and 1990s when they were sexually abused while setting up wrestling rings, running errands, and performing other duties for World Wrestling Entertainment, which was then known as the World Wrestling Federation. An earlier motion to dismiss in December 2025 narrowed the plaintiff count from eight down to seven.
The complaint centers primarily on Mel Phillips Jr., a longtime ring announcer and ring crew chief who recruited underage boys. All seven plaintiffs allege abuse by Phillips. Additional claims target former WWE executive Pat Patterson for alleged abuse and former Vice President of Operations Terry Garvin for alleged sexual harassment. Phillips, Patterson, and Garvin all died before the lawsuit was filed.
The litigation names Vince and Linda McMahon alongside corporate entities WWE and TKO, accusing leadership of negligence for allegedly knowing or having reason to know about the abuse while failing to intervene. Claims by two of the plaintiffs remain directed against Linda McMahon, while all seven men continue their claims against Vince McMahon, WWE, and TKO.
DiCello Levitt and Defense Counsel Responses to the Federal Decision
Legal representation for the plaintiffs welcomed the federal court’s decision as a major procedural checkpoint.
💥 Judge pauses child sexual abuse case involving husband of Trump's education secretary pick Linda McMahon, WWE (2024) https://t.co/aCIXZjMbDO
Legal teams representing the corporate and individual defendants include Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP and Goodell DeVries Leech & Dann LLP for WWE, alongside Kramon & Graham PA, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, and Laura A. Brevetti representing the McMahons. Linda McMahon’s attorney has previously described the civil litigation as baseless and without truth, noting it was investigated by the FBI years ago without producing charges.
Next Steps and the November 17 Court Schedule
With the constitutional challenge resolved at the district court level, the case moves forward into the discovery phase, where both sides will exchange evidence and witnesses may be questioned under oath. The court scheduled a teleconference for November 17, 2026, to establish subsequent litigation deadlines and scheduling parameters.
Judge denies WWE and McMahons’ effort to throw out ring boy lawsuit on U.S. constitutional challenge to Maryland Child Victims Acthttps://t.co/xohmr9jBp9 pic.twitter.com/aPoJf2ul3Y
Monday’s ruling addressed solely the constitutional validity of applying the state statute to the federal case and did not determine liability or establish whether the alleged abuse occurred. Because Judge Bredar serves at the U.S. District Court level, defendants retain the option to appeal his decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, though any potential trial remains months away.
NEW: Judge denies WWE and McMahons’ effort to throw out ring boy lawsuit on U.S. constitutional challenge to Maryland Child Victims ActThe case may soon move to discovery, the phase where depositions happen and evidence is exchanged.https://t.co/PBieUPPLyr