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 The complaint was filed on behalf of more than 50 plaintiffs who
have performed with WWE or its predecessors since the 1970s,
including Joseph "Road Warrior Animal" Laurinaitis and Paul "Mr.
Wonderful" Orndorff.
It accused Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE and Chairman Vince
McMahon of intentionally classifying wrestlers as "independent
contractors" rather than employees, as a means to avoid liability
under applicable worker protection laws.
"WWE placed corporate gain over its wrestlers' health, safety, and
financial security, choosing to leave the plaintiffs severely
injured and with no recourse to treat their damaged minds and
bodies," the complaint said.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as
improved medical monitoring.
WWE, in a statement, called the lawsuit another attempt to hold it
liable by a lawyer who had two earlier lawsuits dismissed and added
that "we're confident this lawsuit will suffer the same fate".
WWE has won the dismissal of some claims in other lawsuits accusing
it of hiding the risks of head trauma from wrestling.
The National Football League and National Hockey League have also
been sued by retired players over head injuries.
Monday's complaint was filed with the federal court in New Haven,
Connecticut.
The plaintiffs accused WWE of concealing the risks of the
degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy and
other traumatic brain injuries attributable to wrestling, including
through "scripted" moves it choreographed.
Konstantine Kyros, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, in an email said
WWE's "exploitative business model" kept his clients from learning
their rights under laws such as the federal Occupational Safety and
Health Act.
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According to the complaint, Laurinaitis, 55; Snuka, 72; and Orndorff,
66, suffer from cognitive difficulties including headaches,
dizziness and memory loss, while Snuka and Orndorff also experience
confusion, depression and mood swings.
The plaintiffs also include former referees and identical twins Earl
and Dave Hebner, 66, who according the complaint have experienced
cognitive difficulties. Dave Hebner has also been diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease, the complaint said.
The case is Laurinaitis et al v. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc
et al, U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, No. 16-01209.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Alan Crosby,
Bernard Orr)
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