Activision Blizzard has cleared one lawsuit out of its backlog it seems as a ruling has been made today over workplace conduct and sexual harassment at the publisher.
U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer is “prepared to approve” Activision Blizzard’s $18 million settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This news comes months after the original September 27, 2021 date originally reported last year.
Both the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have been caught up in the lawsuit. The EEOC (a federal agency) has been embattled against the DFEH (a state agency) over how much victims should receive from Activision Blizzard.
The DFEH has been trying to delay the hearing as it has its own lawsuit going to trial in February 2023 and the judge has ruled that the DFEH has taken too long to make an argument; the agency will appeal the decision.
“The DFEH will continue to vigorously prosecute its action against Activision in California state court,” Fahizah Alim, a DFEH spokesperson said. “In recent weeks, DFEH defeated Activision’s request that the Court dismisses DFEH’s case, and DFEH has sought documents and other evidence of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation violations over many years by Activision. The Court has set a trial date in February 2023.”
In October 2021, the Communications Workers of America also objected to the settlement with the EEOC. The union saw that the settlement of $18 million is not enough given how much Activision Blizzard makes. In 2020, Bobby Kotick made away with $150 million and will give him another $390 million.
The DFEH lawsuit is currently set for February 27, 2023.
