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MORE DETAILS ON LATEST LAWSUIT AGAINST WWE

By Mike Johnson on 2015-04-10 10:54:43
PWInsider.com has acquired a copy of the lawsuit filed against WWE by Ryan Sakoda, Luther Reigns and Russ McCollough yesterday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. All three are currently residents of California, which is why the suit was filed there.

The 47 page filing is almost word for word the same lawsuit filed by others making similar claims against WWE.

McCullough alleges that he was knocked unconscious during an event in Cincinnati, Ohio and was beaten with 15 chairshots after being knocked out without WWE medical staff intervening. He claims that WWE stated, "Not our problem" when he attempted to report the issue. The lawsuit alleges additional physical effects of the damage he suffered while working for the company and today, McCullough,"suffers from numerous symptoms including but not limited to headaches, severe migraines memory loss, and severe depression and panic attacks which have required over forty emergency room visits since he retired."

Ryan Sakoda alleges in the suit that WWE is operated by “intimidation and abuse” and that the company disregarded his health and safety, and that of others, to a degree that has left him traumatized. He states he and others were “forced to wrestle injured or you lost your job,” and that concussions were not discussed or treated. When he suffered a concussion after being knocked out by a superkick in 2003, WWE medical staff simply told him not to go to sleep or he might die. Sakoda today alleges he suffers "numerous symptoms including but not limited to headaches, severe migraines, memory loss and severe depression."

Reigns alleges in the suit there was a "code of silence" about head injuries in WWE and he suffered numerous concussions and injuries that went untreated while working for the company. The suit contains allegations that he was once knocked out by Big Show and even though he vomited after, there was no treatment. The lawsuit notes he has suffered a stroke in the past and today, "suffers from post-concussion symptoms including but not limited to severe fatigue, dizziness, and severe short and long term memory loss. Mr. Wiese is unable to remember much of his life."

The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial. WWE has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

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