Major gaming company settles discrimination suit

The company behind one of the most popular video games in the world has settled a class-action suit alleging gender discrimination. New York gamers might already be familiar with Riot Games or its incredibly popular game, League of Legends. One former employee of Riot Games and one current employee filed a lawsuit alleging that the company blocked career advancement and denied them equal pay because of their gender. The COO of Riot was suspended at the end of 2018 after there were reports that he hit employees in the genitals and farted on them.

The gender discrimination lawsuit alleged that this sort of “bro culture” behavior was the norm at the company and that misogyny and sexual harassment were normalized at Riot. The company announced that a settlement had been reached in August of 2019; the company said it believed it was in a strong position for litigation but chose to settle to move past the dispute.

Riot has been in the process of changing internal policies and the culture of the company since reports of discrimination came to light in August of 2018. Some company employees have been critical, though, of Riot’s approach. In May of 2019, there was a walkout involving at least 100 employees as a protest of an arbitration policy advanced by the company. There remains a pending investigation into unequal pay between women and men, gender discrimination and sexual harassment at the company.

New York employers have a duty to employees to provide a safe work environment. People who believe they have been discriminated against at work might want to meet with an attorney. An attorney who handles workplace discrimination cases might be able to help by negotiating with the employer toward a monetary settlement or other relief. In cases that cannot be settled, an attorney might draft and file a complaint for damages in civil court.

super lawyers
New York County Lawyers Association
NYSBA
New York City Bar
NELA Advocates for Employee Rights National Employment Lawyers Association
lead counsel lc verified