Parents of Activision manager sue over sexual harassment leading to suicide

Activision Blizzard is being sued again, this time by the family of a former employee.

Paul and Janet Moynihan believe that the death of their daughter, Kerri Moynihan, which was ruled a suicide by hanging, was caused by pervasive sexual harassment at work that was tolerated by her employer. The complaint was filed March 3 in Los Angeles County Superior Court by Isaacs Friedberg LLC. Paul and Janet Moynihan v. Activision Publishing Inc., 22STCV07890, L.A. Sup. Ct. (filed Mar. 2, 2022).

Moynihan, a finance manager for the gaming giant, was found dead in April 2017 in a hotel bathroom while on a retreat with the company in Anaheim. At the time of her death she was involved in a sexual relationship with her married supervisor, according to the complaint. Among the alleged incidents detailed in the documents: Male co-workers passing around a photograph of her private parts at a company holiday party in 2016.

Three government lawsuits and private class complaints of the same nature by current and former female employees have been filed against the Santa Monica-based video game company, creator of bestsellers such as "Call of Duty" and "World of Warcraft."

In the summer of 2021, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Activision, its parent and affiliated companies. The complaint in that case detailed a pattern of workplace sexual harassment and discrimination in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Government Code Sections 12900 et seq., and the California Equal Pay Act, Labor Code Section 1197.5. Department of Fair Employment and Housing v. Activision Blizzard Inc. et al., 21STCV26571, L.A. Sup. Ct. (filed July, 2021).

Two months later, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged similar misconduct in a federal lawsuit against Activision and related companies. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Activision Blizzard Inc. et al., 2:21-CV-07682 DSF-JEM, C.D. Cal. (filed Sept. 2021.)

Activision's legal woes come in the midst of an acquisition announced by Microsoft Corp. for $68.7B dollars last month.

Elena Baca of Paul Hastings represents Activision Blizzard. She referred questions about the lawsuit to a company spokesperson. Kelvin Liu, senior director of the corporate communications, said in an email: "We at Activision Blizzard were, and continue to be, deeply saddened by the tragic death of Ms. Moynihan, who was a valued member of the company. We cooperated with the investigation, and will address the complaint through the legal process as appropriate. Out of respect for the family we have no further comment at this time."

--Ricardo Pineda