The case has been going on for several years.
According to a report by James Fudge of The Esports Observer, lawyers representing women who sued Riot Games in 2018 for allegedly perpetrating gender discrimination and harassment allege that the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) intervened in the case.
In particular, the lawyers claimed that DFEH was attempting to remove one of their clients, Gabriela Downie, from the case, saying, “It is an effective move for summary judgment in standing up against Plaintiff Downie.”
The lawyers claimed that this was “a blatant attempt by the DFEH to gain absolute power throughout this case by dismissing the women who stood out to prosecute this case as Plaintiffs.”
In addition, lawyers say that in another case regarding allegations of discrimination against women in the workplace, the DFEH was “trying to dissuade women working at Activision/Blizzard from speaking to private counsel.”
In November 2018, former female employees of Riot Games filed a class action lawsuit against the game publisher, alleging that women in the company were subjected to unequal pay and harassment, and that it was "strangling their careers because they were women."
According to the LA Times, the two parties agreed to a $400 million settlement before the DFEH stepped in, claiming the initial settlement figure was too low and recommending that it be increased to at least $10 million.