John Laurinaitis has issued a new statement regarding the Janel Grant lawsuit that was filed back in January.
Former WWE employee Grant accused former Chairman Vince McMahon of sexual misconduct and trafficking which led to McMahon resigning from all executive positions in the company and parent company TKO Holdings following pressure from major sponsor Slim Jim pausing their partnership the day before the Royal Rumble.
WWE and Laurinaitis are also defendants in the case with Laurinaitis explicitly named in the 67-page lawsuit and his role in the disturbing allegations is recounted in graphic detail.
All 3 defendants have submitted formal requests to move the lawsuit to arbitration which is yet to see an official decision reached. Janel Grant’s attorneys have also paused their case at a request from the US Justice Department.
On June 10th, Laurinaitis filed a new statement confirming his status as a former employee of WWE and his understanding of the rules of arbitration.
The statement obtained from F4WOnline reads as follows:
“I, John Laurinaitis, declare under penalty of perjury as follows:
- At all times material to the allegations set forth in the Complaint, I was an employee of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
- As a full-time employee of WWE, it is my understanding that I was listed as a released party from any and all lawsuits or causes of action by Plaintiff Grant.
- Pursuant to the terms of the Confidential Settlement Agreement, General Release, and Covenant Not to Sue (Dkt. 30-2) it is my understanding that the sole and exclusive legal method to resolve any disputes related to the Confidential Settlement Agreement would be in binding arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act.”
John Laurinaitis Changes Sides
Shortly after the lawsuit was made public, Laurinaitis denied all allegations and claimed that he was also a victim of Vince McMahon. However, in early May John Laurinaitis sided with Vince McMahon and joined the former Chairman in his support of arbitration.
On June 11th, the Vince McMahon lawsuit was officially paused.