The defendants in the “ring boy” civil lawsuit – TKO Group Holdings, WWE, Vince McMahon, and Linda McMahon – have filed motions in federal court seeking to have the case dismissed. The lawsuit, brought by eight anonymous plaintiffs, alleges the company and its former executives were negligent in connection to claims of child sexual abuse in the 1980s by former ring announcer Mel Phillips and former executive Pat Patterson.

As reported by POST Wrestling, the defendants present several legal arguments in their motion. Among them is the assertion that Maryland is not the appropriate venue for the case. They argue the plaintiffs chose Maryland specifically to benefit from a new law that removes the statute of limitations on such claims, despite the fact that none of the parties involved reside in the state.

Additionally, the defendants claim they did not have a legal “duty of care” to protect the plaintiffs, whom they assert were not employees of WWE. They also argue that any alleged misconduct by Phillips occurred outside the scope of his role with the company. In response, the plaintiffs reference prior testimony and reports suggesting that Vince and Linda McMahon were aware of Phillips’ “peculiar and unnatural interest” in children.

The plaintiffs’ legal team has until July 28 to respond to the motions.

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