Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani secured a complete dismissal on behalf of USA Fencing and individual defendants in a proposed class action pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, challenging the organization’s transgender eligibility policy. The plaintiffs alleged claims under Title IX, breach of contract, fraud and deception, civil conspiracy, and negligent misrepresentation arising from a 2025 fencing tournament in Kansas City, Missouri.
In granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss, the court found that the plaintiffs failed to allege facts sufficient to support their claims, including any gender-based adverse treatment or exclusion from participation in the competition. The court further held that USA Fencing’s policy permitting transgender women to compete in women’s events had been publicly available well before tournament registration opened, rejecting the plaintiffs’ allegations that the organization engaged in unlawful or deceptive conduct. The court dismissed all claims asserted against USA Fencing and the individual defendants.
The GRSM team was led by Partners Blake Edwards and Vincent Gunter, with significant briefing support from Senior Counsel Toni Martin.
Law360 covered the decision in “Women Fencers Can’t Advance Bias Suit Over Trans Eligibility.” Subscription may be required.