Associated Press “Dozens of wrestlers sue WWE for damages over brain injuries” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/19/dozens-of-wrestlers-sue-wwe-for-damages-over-brain-injuries
７月18日、50名以上の引退した元プロレスラーがレスラーとして被った脳障害への責任を取るよう、WWE*1を相手取って訴訟を起こした。特に問題とされているのは、WWEが労働者保護法制でにおいて規定された雇用者責任を逃れるために意図的にレスラーを「独立事業者」として扱ったことのようだ；
先日亡くなったモハメド・アリ*2のパーキンソン病とボクシングとの関係はわからないけれど、スポーツと脳障害ということで先ず思い浮かぶのはボクシングだろう。たこ八郎の場合とか。また、プロのサッカー選手はALSに類似した病気になるリスクが一般人の数倍高いということもいわれている*3。
The complaint was filed on behalf of more than 50 plaintiffs who have performed with WWE or its predecessors since the 1970s, including Joseph “Road Warrior Animal” Laurinaitis and Paul “Mr. Wonderful” Orndorff.It accused Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE and chairman Vince McMahon of intentionally classifying wrestlers as “independent contractors” rather than employees, as a means to avoid liability under applicable worker protection laws.
“WWE placed corporate gain over its wrestlers’ health, safety, and financial security, choosing to leave the plaintiffs severely injured and with no recourse to treat their damaged minds and bodies,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as improved medical monitoring.
WWE, in a statement, called the lawsuit another attempt to hold it liable by a lawyer who had two earlier lawsuits dismissed and added that “we’re confident this lawsuit will suffer the same fate”.
WWE has won the dismissal of some claims in other lawsuits accusing it of hiding the risks of head trauma from wrestling.
The National Football League and National Hockey League have also been sued by retired players over head injuries.
