Activision Blizzard’s request to pause DFEH lawsuit rejected

A judge has denied Activision Blizzard’s request to pause the DFEH lawsuit a few days after it was filed. The decision came in the wake of the growing tensions between California’s authorities and the EEOC.

The request was rejected by the Los Angeles County Court on Friday, according to Law360 (via GamesIndustry.biz). The judge, however, refused to elaborate on the reasoning for this order.

It is worth recalling that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) accused the DFEH of violating professional ethics earlier this month, as two attorneys opposing the EEOC’s $18 million settlement were previously involved in the commission’s own investigation into Activision Blizzard.

That’s what made the publisher request the court to hold off the DFEH lawsuit last week, citing ethical violations. It was later opposed by the DFEH, with California’s authorities calling the request “baseless.”

The court’s latest order means that Activision Blizzard will still have to face the DFEH in the court following its accusations of harassment and discrimination. The company is now also being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.