A possible conflict of interest between lawyers disrupts Activision Blizzard

It is a scene for the least unexpected that is unfolding in the case that opposes Activision Blizzard to the world, and more exactly different American agencies, its shareholders or its own employees who militate for a deep transformation of The company, accused of allowing proliferating a culture of harassment of discrimination, especially towards women.

At the origin of the storm that shakes Activision Blizzard since last July is a complaint filed by the California Employment and Housing Department (DFEH) after a survey conducted for two years in contact with employees and former employees of the group., which on social networks have shown by dozens of the abuse they have been victims in the course of their work. Among the other organizations to which Blizzard Activision has been dealing with the Commission for Equal Employment (EEOC). This federal government agency recently entered into an agreement with Activision Blizzard, which will invest $ 18 million as part of its efforts to better prevent harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

Things began to complicate last week, when the DFEH has submitted an objection to this agreement, arguing that it would lead to the effective struction of evidence essential to its file and would cause an irradiability to its own trial. This objection was the subject of a response from EEOC comprising a revelation for the least confusing. This teaches us that the investigation of the DFEH, which is the original recall of the whole case, was conducted by two lawyers who previously worked for EEOC and who had already investigated Activision Blizzard for the Same reasons.

If this situation is confirmed, it not only constitutes a violation of the ethics of lawyers but also a conflict of interest that may undermine the complaint filed by the DFEH. Contacted by the PC Gamer site which has been reserved for these legal complications, the lawyer Richard Hoeg described as Massif this turnaround situation which he could greatly question the process of the DFEH and even provide to Activision a line of defense against the starting process.

Whatever happens in the credibility of the complaint that has launched this case, however, dozens of Tens of Blizzard Activision have testified about the dysfunction of the company and that it is far too late to imagine Management deny all of the issues raised. Bobby Kotick himself has moved on several occasions to make his business a new model of the type in the processing of employees, after having ejected several high-placed elements, including the President of Blizzard, J. Allen Brack.