Vince McMahon has reached a multimillion dollar settlement with former referee Rita Chatterton.
Chatterton had been seeking damages worth $11.75 million after claiming that she was sexually assaulted by McMahon in a limousine back in 1986. In 1992, Chatterton came forward with her story claiming that McMahon made unwanted sexual advances towards her, and after she turned him down, he raped her. Due to the statute of limitations at the time, no charges were filed against McMahon.
Vince McMahon Reaches New Settlement
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, people close to the agreement have confirmed that Chatterton has received a sum worth millions of dollars. However, it is less than the $11.75 million that she had originally filed for.
The settlement provides Ms. Chatterton with a lump sum up front and annual instalments, similar to Mr. McMahon’s previous agreements with women, the person familiar with the
deal said.
High-profile lawyer Jerry McDevitt stated that Vince McMahon denies the allegations made by Chatterton.
“Mr. McMahon denies and always has denied raping Ms. Chatterton. And he settled the case solely to avoid the cost of litigation,”
In 1993, McMahon alleged in a lawsuit that Chatterton had been induced to make the false allegation by a former wrestler “with an axe to grind.” The lawsuit was withdrawn a year later, with McMahon claiming that he needed to focus his attention on what became known as the steroid trial. He was acquitted of those charges in 1994.
The news of the agreement comes after it was reported in 2022 that McMahon had reached a number of legal settlements with former employees in relation to other allegations. In one instance he paid a former wrestler $7.5 million after she claimed that he had coerced her into giving him oral sex.
After initially being rebuffed, Vince McMahon returned to WWE’s Board of Directors on January 6th, 2023. To force the move he ousted three serving Board members to make way for himself and two associates. Two other Board members promptly quit and his daughter and co-CEO Stephanie McMahon also left the company. McMahon was later elected Executive Chairman.