The video game company Riot Games has jumped out of the legal frying pan and into the fire as they backed out of the settlement in the gender discrimination class-action lawsuit against them. They prefer the possibility of hundreds of individual arbitration hearings and an additional class-action lawsuit.
If you or somebody you love has faced workplace discrimination in California, we have a team of skilled lawyers who are ready to get to work for you. We can investigate the claims, determine liability, and secure compensation. Contact the California workplace discrimination attorneys at Licata & Yeremenko, A Professional Law Corporation.
The Case Of Riot Games
Earlier this year, Riot Games filed a motion to have its female employees settle their pay equity and sexual harassment allegations in individual secret arbitrations.
The request, granted by a Los Angeles judge, opens Riot Games to additional stacks of litigation as the women who signed arbitration agreements could be forced to individually argue each case in arbitration. This does not stop the equal pay statutory penalty claims and the class action lawsuit from trudging on in the courts.
Riot Games agreed to settle the sexual harassment class action lawsuit with a $10 million settlement in 2019. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) intervened, stating the plaintiffs deserved compensation closer to $400 million, which includes back pay from discriminatory wage discrepancies.
Individual arbitration would separate the women’s claims. These proceedings will happen in secret, before a private judge, shrouding Riot Games’ discriminatory conduct from the public.
However, one female employee never signed an arbitration agreement, leaving her able to continue representing the gender discrimination class action lawsuit in court.
A Briefing On Discrimination
In California, workplace discrimination can show up in many different forms. It can be obvious or subtle. It can be derogatory or discriminatory comments. It can be a discrepancy of pay or benefits. It can be the refusal or neglect of an employee’s rights. It can be a differential treatment.
Both state and federal laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace. Under California law, prohibited discrimination is based on the following characteristics:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender
- Genetic Information
- Harassment
- Marital Status
- National Origin
- Pregnancy
- Race/Color
- Religion
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
To those who have had to suffer through workplace discrimination, there are many types of compensation available. This may include:
- Lost wages and/or benefits
- Future lost earnings
- Reinstating a job (if desired or necessary)
- Court costs and legal fees
- Emotional distress damages
- Punitive damages
When Should I Contact a lawyer?
Workplace discrimination should never happen, but unfortunately, it does occur in all types of Californian workplaces—from large employers with anti-discrimination guidelines down to smaller businesses and mom-and-pop shops. Wherever it occurs, The California workplace discrimination attorneys at Licata & Yeremenko, A Professional Law Corporation are ready to evaluate, advise, and guide you through any of these situations.
Our team has a successful track record of standing up for employees’ rights. You can reach out to us on our website for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 818-783-5757.