There are some serious accusations being thrown at the WWE and some of the company’s big name associates as PWInsider.com is reporting that former developmental star Brian Jack has filed a lawsuit against the WWE, Vince McMahon, renowned sports physician Dr. James Andrews, the former Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, former Director of Talent Relations Ty Bailey (who was fired by the WWE back in March of this year), Kristin Actman, current WWE Superstar Santino Marella, former WWE Diva Elizabeth “Beth Phoenix” Carolan, production company Shed Media USA, and Kwik Trip, Inc.
This big lawsuit from the ex-talent alleges that, while employed by the WWE, Brian Jack informed WWE officials about incidents of hazing, threats, and sexual harassment during his time in WWE’s developmental territory. Jack claims that, when he told officials about these issues, he was told to discuss it with head trainer Steve Keirn, who intentionally broke his “neck, pelvis, backbone, thumb”, and badly injured his leg.
Shed Media USA (a subsidary of the larger Shed Media corporation based out of the UK) was the production company behind the rehashed WWE Tough Enough and is on the lawsuit because Brian Jack claims that WWE used the production company to make him believe that he would be named as one of the contestants on the relaunched reality show. WWE supposedly did this to get Brian Jack to sign a new contract that would relieve the WWE of any and all liabilities before, during, and after production of the TV series. After discovering that he would not be a part of the show, Jack requested that the aforementioned clause be removed from his contract. While the WWE agreed to send him a new contract, Jack says that they never did.
Santino Marella (Anthony Carelli) is being accused of trying to convince Brian Jack to commit insurance fraud on his homeowner’s policy and the WWE tried to get him to take part in a “staged car wreck”, so their developmental insurance would not take a hit.
After his alleged injury at the hands of Steve Keirn (whose name is not present on the lawsuit), Brian Jack states that the WWE sent him to their most trusted physician, Dr. James Andrews, to get his injured leg taken care of. While at the office of Dr. Andrews, the physician supposedly asked Brian Jack some bizarre questions and even checked to see if he was wearing a wire. Jack also mentions that he is still receiving bills from Dr. Andrews to this day, even though the WWE asked that they be forwarded the bills.
UPDATE: Following the initial story, PWInsider.com reported that the proposed lawsuit barely got off of the ground as, on Tuesday, the Chief Judge of U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, William C. Griesbach, dismissed the lawsuit from court, citing a “lack of jurisdiction”.
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