(UPDATED) Activision Blizzard Accuses DFEH Of Ethics Violations, Seeks To Pause Harassment Case

Activision Blizzard is striking back at California's Department of Fair and Equal Housing, as the publisher has accused the DFEH of ethics violations stemming from the revelation that two of its attorneys previously represented the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which announced an $18 million settlement last month. As such, Activision Blizzard is looking to "pause" the pending suit against it, according to GamesIndustry.biz.

In addition to that motion, the publisher has also moved to have its case classified as "complex" and moved to another court better suited to its complicated nature. In doing so, Activision Blizzard also claimed that the DFEH "destroyed information it was required to preserve," something that the company has also been accused of by the DFEH.

Given all that, I'd say that the whole affair is definitely leaning toward "complex," and the DFEH and Activision Blizzard agree on that point, as the agency has also apparently asked for a similar change of venue. All the legal maneuvering and back-and-forth claims of ethics violations and evidence destruction lead us to think that this isn't going to be resolved in anything resembling a timely fashion, so buckle up for the long ride.

UPDATE, 10/25: California judge Timothy Patrick Dillon has denied Blizzard's request to pause the DFEH suit. He did not give a reason for the denial.