G4TV, who you may recall broke the original West/Zampella story, has obtained documents that show 38 developers from Infinity Ward are suing Activision for missing bonus payments. They allege that Activision violated California labour codes and withheld bonus payments related to the success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 “in an attempt to keep the employees hostage so that Activision could reap the benefit of the completion of Modern Warfare 3.”
According to the documents, Activision has paid out $28 million in bonuses so far but there is another $54 million outstanding. The group is attempting to sue for $75-125 million in compensation and is attempting to win an additional $75 million to $500 million in punitive damages.
“Activision has withheld most of the money to force many of my people to stay, some against their will, so that they would finish the delivery of Modern Warfare 3,” attorney Bruce Isaacs said, “That is not what they wanted to do.”
We know that 26 staff have left Infinity Ward so that means some of the staff currently at the company are suing Activision. In response to the law suit Activision have stated:
“Activision believes the action is without merit. Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for MW2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right.”
Source: G4Tv
