Former Rockstar North President and Grand Theft Auto Producer Leslie Benzies left the studio in January, apparently deciding at the end of a lengthy sabbatical period that he did not want to return. But in a $150 million lawsuit filed against his former employers, revealed in a statement issued by Locke Lord LLP partner Christopher Bakes, Benzies claims he was “enticed” into taking the sabbatical, and that when he attempted to return to work in April 2015, he discovered that he had been locked out of the building.
The lawsuit says Benzies and the Housers were official “Rockstar Principals,” who had identical contracts with Take-Two. But the suit alleges that Sam Houser felt “mounting resentment” over the arrangement and the “many years of high praise” that Benzies enjoyed, and that Benzies' removal “after years of receiving compensation identical to the Housers was the product of what turned out to be a lengthy deception by Sam Houser.”
As for Take-Two's role in the matter, it “breached its mediation obligations by issuing an out-of-bounds and inaccurate press statement regarding his sabbatical and that he would not be coming back to work,” the statement says. “In fact, when attempting to resume his duties upon conclusion of his sabbatical on April 1, 2015, Mr. Benzies found himself unable to enter the Rockstar North office because his facilities access device had been deactivated. After being let inside by building security, Mr. Benzies was then ordered to leave by the Rockstar North office manager without reason.”
“Mr. Benzies has spent the bulk of his life in the video game industry, and looks forward to reaching a fair settlement so he can continue creating great entertainment software in a respectful environment that truly values the work of game developers,” the statetment concludes. The lawsuit alleges that he is owed “in excess of $150 million in unpaid royalties.”
I've reached out to Rockstar and Take-Two for comment, and will update if and when I receive a reply.
Thanks. GamesIndustry.
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