Activision Blizzard Being Sued For Wrongful Death By Parents Of Deceased Former Employee

The parents of Kerri Moynihan, the Blizzard Activision employee who was reported to have committed suicide during a company trip as a result of sexual harassment, are now suing the game company. As reported on Polygon via The Washington Post, parents Paul and Janet Moynihan are suing for wrongful death, citing the sexual harassment that she allegedly endured at the company as a “significant factor” in her death.

A copy of the lawsuit was given to Polygon by the Moynihans’ lawyer that describes Activision Blizzard as a “hostile, intimidating, offensive, and abusive” place of employment. It goes on to claim that Blizzard failed to prevent the harassment that reportedly resulted in Moynihan’s suicide – a suicide that was referenced in the suit filed by the DFEH. It goes further in naming Greg Restituito as Moynihan’s manager and someone who allegedly had a sexual relationship with her and lied about it to investigators.

In addition, the lawsuit claims that Activision Blizzard refused to provide police with Moynihan’s laptop when asked for it, claiming it had been wiped. More disturbing is the claim that Restituito apparently questioned other employees who were with Moynihan the night of her death and that he went to her apartment to “clean it and [remove] items from it.

Polygon contacted Activision Blizzard about these claims. The response was that the company is “deeply saddened” and that Moynihan was a “valued member of the company”. They also stated that they will “address the complaint through the legal process as appropriate” citing respect for the family.