author: Patryk Michas
Activision Blizzard Claims Company's Reputation has been Unjustly Tarnished
Activision Blizzard claims it was wrongly accused. The company has petitioned the court to dismiss the sexual harassment allegations, challenging the commission's authority.
As reported previously, Activison Blizzard is struggling with lawsuits that seem to pop up at every corner. Convinced that it is right, the company has filed a motion with the court to dismiss the charges brought by the DFEH, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, in 2021.
DFEH's rule violation
In its claim, Activision Blizzard accused the department of mishandling an investigation that involved sexual harassment. The DFEH claimed that the company had a "college fraternity" culture of harassing female employees while sweeping complaints under the rug.
The company disputed the lawsuit, referring to the steps the department should take before filing with the Supreme Court. According to Activision Blizzard, all claims should have been thoroughly investigated first, followed by an attempt at mediation and a possible solution.
Activision Blizzard claimed that the entire process damaged the company's reputation and undermined public trust. In its statement the publisher also noted:
"We intend to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the DFEH. The Department violated its own rules, acted in bad faith, and undermined its authority by filing this action."
Agency dispute
The lawsuit involved not only the DFEH, but also the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Activision Blizzard says the lawsuit is the result of a dispute between the agencies that began in 2018 when routine investigations against the company overlapped.
In the motion, the game developer and publisher accused the DFEH of fueling a media campaign that was aimed at damaging the reputation of not only the company but also the EEOC. It must be said that such behavior by serious institutions is out of character, which the Federal Court took the liberty of commenting on, with words describing the dispute as "inappropriate."
When asked for a comment, the DFEH said it would do so in the courtroom.