Court Approves $18M Settlement with Activision Blizzard in California

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered the consent decree between Activision Blizzard Inc. and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which includes $18 million in monetary and injunctive relief.

By signing the three-year consent decree, Judge Dale Fischer resolved the lawsuit alleging the companies violated federal law by subjecting female employees to sexual harassment, pregnancy discrim­ination, and related retaliation.

The ruling includes not only Activision Blizzard Inc., a Southern California-based video game developer, but also Blizzard Entertainment Inc., Activision Publishing, Inc. and King.com Inc. and the entities’ subsidiaries.

On Sept. 27, 2021, the EEOC filed a lawsuit alleging that Activision Blizzard violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and retaliation for complaining about discrimination.

The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (EEOC v. Activision Blizzard, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:21-cv-07682) along with a consent decree following conciliation discussions with Activision Blizzard.

People who believe they were sexually harassed, discriminated against because of pregnancy, or experienced related retaliation against while working at any of the companies or their subsidiaries may be entitled to relief.

This settlement covers all U.S. locations of Activision Blizzard, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Publishing and King.com.

Activision Blizzard also agreed to substantial injunctive relief aimed at preventing workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation. The decree will be implemented throughout the companies, including locations in California, Wisconsin, New York, Minnesota, Texas and Arkansas.

The decree remains under the jurisdiction of the court for the duration of its three-year term and will be implemented in locations across the country.

Topics California