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The state of California has a case against the company. The governor's office is accused of trying to get involved in the lawsuit between the state and the company for sexual harassment and discrimination. Janette Wipper, the head counsel for the suit, tried to maintain the department's independence, but was allegedly fired by Newsom, which prompted the assistant chief counsel for the department to resign in protest.
The Office of the Governor demanded advance notice of litigation strategy and of next steps in the litigation, according to an email sent to staff. The interference increased as we continued to win in state court.
The claims of interference by the office of the governor are categorically false, according to the communications director for the governor.
An $18 million victim compensation fund has been set up by the EEOC. The settlement could allow the company to destroy evidence or release the state from its claims, according to the DFEH. The settlement will be approved at the end of March after a California judge denied the DFEH's requests to stay the settlement.
The settlement was criticized for being a drop in the bucket for the billion-dollar company. Riot Games, a billion-dollar video game publisher, settled a harassment lawsuit for $100 million. The company's $18 million figure is woefully inadequate according to a press conference held by a high-profile lawyer, who has filed her own case against the company.
The settlement's size didn't seem to motivate the DFEH to block it, but it did seem to want to pursue harsher penalties than the EEOC proposed. With the top two lawyers gone, it seems like political forces have decided that they have a vested interest in the company. In an email to The Verge, the deputy communication director said thatDFEH does not comment on personnel matters. California has civil rights and fair housing laws.
The statement was added by the governor's office.
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