Fans of professional wrestling may not question whether (or how much) the blows or falls wrestlers sustain may actually hurt. After all, the action inside (and sometimes outside) the ring is supposed to be pure entertainment. However, like all action stunts, injuries may occur.
The famous World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) is not immune to this. According to a recent businessinsurance.com report, scores of former wrestlers are suing the WWE over injuries sustained during choreographed battles.
The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in New Haven, Connecticut and accuses the WWE along with Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon of failing to address head injuries in a timely and competent manner. The suit also claims that wrestlers were not given adequate concussion protocols, including published return-to-play guidelines, before being sent back to the ring. These deficiencies, the wrestlers claim, have led to current cognitive problems.
Among the former wrestlers to participate in the suit, Joseph Laurinaitis (the Road Warrior) and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka claim that they suffer continual dizziness, cognitive difficulties, headaches, and memory loss as a result of head injuries suffered during their WWE careers.
The WWE emailed a statement decrying the lawsuit, claiming that it is another “ridiculous” attempt to hold the company liable for the same issues that were previously dismissed in a prior class-action lawsuit. It remains to be seen what will happen with the current lawsuit, especially given how it is unknown how the previous matter was dismissed.
Nevertheless, it is an example of how uncompensated workplace accidents require the services of an experienced workers compensation lawyer.
