A judge also upheld an $18 million settlement between Activision Blizzard and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigated the video game developer and publisher for allegations of sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, and retaliation, followed by a lawsuit.
US District Judge Dale Fischer approved the settlement today, six months after Activision Blizzard and the EEOC reached the settlement. Another government agency, the California Department of Fair Employment (DFEH), contested the settlement, as it also sued Activision Blizzard, claiming that a settlement could harm its own case.
As part of the deal with the EEOC, Activision Blizzard will create an $18 million fund that will compensate victims of harassment and discrimination, expand mental health counseling, and help fund harassment and discrimination prevention programs, among other things.
The EEOC began contacting Activision Blizzard employees in 2020 to gather information about their experience with the company, after allegations of “gender-based and/or sexual harassment” were reported to it. The EEOC did not file a formal complaint against the game company until September 2021, at which time Activision Blizzard agreed to the settlement. Shortly after, Activision Blizzard tried to stop DFEH's lawsuit, even though a county judge denied the motion.
According to corporate attorney P. Andrew Torrez, who told The Washington Post that the deal with the EEOC was a "clear win" for Activision Blizzard, the deal could actually impact DFEH's case.
DFEH spokesperson Fahizah Alim recently said that the agency will seek to continue its case against Activision Blizzard, which has a hearing date in 2023.
Kaynak
Judge approves Activision Blizzard's $18 million deal with Federal agency
