Top California state lawyer fired in the midst of her lawsuit against Activision Blizzard

A top California lawyer was fired by the state on March 29, in the midst of her thus-far successful lawsuit against video game company Activision Blizzard over claims of a toxic work environment and harassment.

Janet Wipper was terminated from her position as chief counsel for the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing suddenly on March 29 after working for months on a discrimination lawsuit against Activision Blizzard.

Her colleague, assistant chief counsel on the Activision case, quit in protest on Wednesday on what was Wipper’s last day.

Wipper’s attorney, Alexis Ronickher, has not specified on what grounds Wipper was fired, but says her client is considering filing a claim under the state whistleblower law. Proctor, however, alleges Governor Gavin Newsom, who appointed Wipper only four months before her termination, had been consistently interfering in the lawsuit against Activision Blizzard.

Proctor claims Newsom asked for “advance notice” on many actions in the litigation process. In her resignation email to colleagues on Wednesday, she wrote, “As we continued to win in state court, this interference increased, mimicking the interests of Activision’s counsel.” Newsom’s office has denied the allegations.