WWE Files Motion To Move Fan Lawsuit Over Hearing Damage To Arbitration

WWE is seeking to have the lawsuit filed against it over hearing damage sustained at a 2022 Smackdown taping moved to arbitration. As reported in May, the company was hit with the lawsuit from Richard Bryant, who alleges that he suffered injuries from a July 2022 taping in Orlando, Florida. PWInsider reports that WWE filed a motion on July 3rd to have the lawsuit moved to arbitration.

WWE argued that Bryan’s claims would fall under Ticketmaster’s terms and conditions, which state that any issues from patrons regarding events they attend after buying tickets via the platform would go to arbitration. WWE has successfully moved a previous fan lawsuit over hearing damage into arbitration. A trial date has been set for August 18th if the case is not settled beforehand.

Bryant is seeking $15,000 in damages and accused WWE of negligence and carelessness, claiming that they did not “adequately warn of the dangers of pyrotechnics, failed to test the effect of pyrotechnics on the premises, failed to operate the pyrotechnics with reasonable care, failed to hire, select, train and supervise reasonably competent employees, failed to implement and enforce reasonable policies and procedures for the safe use of pyrotechnics, failed to use ordinary care in the administration of pyrotechnics, failed to warn Plaintiff of the potential effects of use of pyrotechnics, any and all other acts determined to be negligent or grossly by the tier of fact.”

Bryant also claims that some of his injuries, which include include “traumatic rupture of his right ear drum, bilateral tinnitus, hearing loss in his right ear, psychological harm,” may be permanent and has had medical expenses for treatment, with more such expenses likely.