By Joseph Choi - 04/26/21 01:27 PM EDT
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on Monday from several former pro wrestlers who claim World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) failed to protect them from repeated head injuries that led to brain damage.
The plaintiffs in the case include William “Billy Jack” Haynes, Russ “Big Russ” McCullough, Ryan Sakoda, Matthew “Luther Reigns” Wiese and the widow of Nelson “Viscera” Frazier, who died in 2014, The Associated Press reports.
Their case had been previously dismissed by a lower court for being filed too late. More than 50 former wrestlers who were largely active in the 1980s and 1990s sued the WWE, alleging the entertainment company knew of the risks of repeated head injuries, but did not warn the wrestlers.
Supreme Court declines to hear wrestlers brain damage cases against WWE
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the appeals of several former pro wrestlers who claimed in lawsuits that World Wrestling Entertainment failed to protect them from repeated head injuries that led to long-term brain damage.
The former wrestlers asked the high court to review lower court rulings that dismissed the lawsuits because they were filed too late. The plaintiffs include William Billy Jack Haynes, Russ Big Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda, Matthew Luther Reigns Wiese and the wife of the late Nelson Viscera Frazier, also known as Big Daddy V, who died in 2014.
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On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court of Connecticut declined to hear a appeal from several former pro wrestlers suing WWE for claiming the company didn t protect them from head injuries that led to CTE and other medical issues, ending a six-year legal journey.
The suit was dismissed in 2020 by the U.S. Court of Appeals, but in February, lawyer Konstantine Kyros said he would appeal to the highest court in the state. No explanations were given for declining to hear the case which is common practice.
Five plaintiffs (Billy Jack Haynes (William Haynes), Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda, Luther Reigns (Matthew Wiese) and the wife of the late Nelson “Viscera” Frazier) remained on the suit that began more than six years ago with as many as 50 plaintiffs.
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Wrestlers Brain Damage Cases nbcconnecticut.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nbcconnecticut.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.