Video game developer Riot Games, the company that developed “League of Legends,” has entered into a tentative agreement to pay $10 million to several former employees. The employees, all women, claimed they were victims of gender discrimination. The company received a lot of negative publicity over the allegations and — rather quickly — settled.
However, the state of California thinks the settlement is vastly unfair both to the plaintiffs and everyone who may follow in their shoes. The state is asking the company to pay $400 million to the women who sued — and that’s just for starters. The state also says that the settlement’s non-monetary terms are inadequate to change the company’s culture and enforce nondiscrimination policies.
Through a spokesperson, Riot Games stated, “We are particularly dismayed that the filing downplays and ignores the efforts we have made with respect to diversity, inclusion, and culture over the past 18 months.” The company is expected to file a formal response soon. Riot initially denied a problem with sexism in the ranks when an investigative report illuminated the problems. However, that assertion didn’t seem to hold much water.
For their part, the plaintiffs aren’t necessarily eager to hold Riot Games to the higher figure. Their attorneys have already filed a rebuttal and asked the state to enforce the original settlement agreement. The plaintiffs may simply prefer to take the lower amount and get on with their lives instead of dealing with ongoing legal matters.
Deciding what to do when you’ve been the victim of workplace discrimination, including gender-based harassment, can be difficult. An experienced attorney can guide you through your options and help you make the right choice for you.