I do not identify as female. Can I participate in the settlement?
The lawsuits were brought on behalf of “female” employees and temporary agency contractors. “Female” in the “Group/Class member(s)” definition includes persons who self-identified as female or who have not identified a gender, but who have a “female-identifying name.” Any current or former Riot employee or temporary contractor may contact the Claims Administrator to correct, confirm, or otherwise provide information about their gender for purposes of participating in the settlement. If you do not identify as female and received a Class Notice, please contact the Claims Administrator to correct this information.
What should I do if my legal gender or identified gender is different from when I worked at Riot?
The settlement covers individuals who were recorded or identified as female, based on available records, at any point during the class period. You can participate in the settlement even if you do not currently identify as female. Please contact the claims administrator if you have questions regarding your eligibility to participate in the settlement.
I did not receive a class notice, but I believe I should be a part of the settlement. What should I do?
Please contact the claims administrator if you have questions regarding your eligibility to participate in the settlement. Class notices were mailed on September 23, 2022. Please allow two weeks. Class notices will also be emailed if Riot’s available records contained a personal email address. If you do not receive a class notice by October 7, 2022, and you believe you are eligible to participate in the settlement, please contact the claims administrator.
I did not work for Riot in California. Can I participate in the settlement?
Only current and former female employees and temporary agency contractors who work(ed) for Riot in California between November 6, 2014 and December 27, 2021 can participate in the settlement.
When will I know my individual allocation?
The class notice will include your estimated settlement payment.
How are tenure payments calculated?
The employment information printed on your notice takes into account the time worked during the Class Period—not necessarily your entire time with Riot. The Class Period is November 6, 2014 through December 27, 2021, which may or may not cover the full duration of a Group/Class Members’ tenure with Riot.
Is my entire time working at Riot part of the tenure calculation?
No. Tenure calculations are based your time worked between November 6, 2014 and December 27, 2021. The employment information printed on your notice takes into account the time worked during the Class Period—not necessarily your entire time with Riot.
What should I do if I believe my calculated settlement payment is incorrect?
Group/Class Members are eligible to receive a distribution from the Group/Class Member Monetary Relief fund based on their role as an employee or temporary agency contractor and their tenure with Riot. Details of the calculation are included in your class notice. If you disagree with the calculations included in the class notice, including your work weeks or employment status, you must complete and send a notice of dispute to the Claims Administrator along with any written documentation supporting your dispute. This documentation could include official records, pay stubs, weekly schedules or personal logs.
Please note that your final payment may increase or decrease depending on the total class size. Your final payment may also increase if the court awards less than $20 million in fees and costs to the Plaintiffs’ attorneys and the claims administrator.
When will I receive my settlement payment?
Settlement payments will be made within 21 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement. Final approval was granted on June 15, 2023. Settlement Payments are scheduled to distribute on July 7, 2023 via Certified Return Receipt.
What should I do if my legal name is different from when I worked at Riot?
Please contact the claims administrator to update your information.
What if I listed a Riot Games office as my home address?
The Claims Administrator must send your check to your physical address, not the Riot Games offices. Please contact the Claims Administrator to update your home address to a new location as soon as possible to avoid a delay in receiving your settlement check.
What should I do if I received my class notice, but I need to update my mailing address to receive my payment?
Please contact the claims administrator or update online here. You will need your Claimant ID # provided in your class notice.
Final Approval granted on June 15, 2023
The final approval hearing concluded on March 16, 2023. The Court signed the Order Granting Final Approval of Class Action Settlement & Consent Decree and Judgment on June 15, 2023. The Final Order can be found here.
How should I handle my taxes as a result of the payment from the Consent Decree/Class Settlement?
Group/Class Members should consult with their tax advisors concerning the tax consequences of payments received under the Consent Decree/Class Settlement. The parties cannot provide you with any tax advice. You can provide the documents included in your payment mailing to your tax advisor.
Your class notice also explains that pursuant to the Consent Decree/Class Settlement, approximately 50% of each payment made to Group/Class Member employees will be treated as wages and will be reported on an IRS Form W-2. The remaining 50% of each payment made to Group/Class Member employees represents the payment of damages for alleged emotional distress and/or physical injuries, penalties and interest, and will be reported on an IRS Form 1099. Group/Class Member temporary agency contractors will only receive an IRS Form 1099 for the entirety of any payments received from the Consent Decree/Class Settlement. If you are eligible for the Minimum Payment described in the Consent Decree/Class Settlement, which resolves applicable claims under the Private Attorneys General Act, that portion of your payment will be reported on both an IRS Form W-2 and an IRS Form 1099 if you were solely an employee, or on an IRS Form 1099 if you were solely a temporary agency contractor. Under the Consent Decree, the Minimum Payment is treated for taxation purposes as 50% wages and 50% compensation for personal injuries, interest, and penalties. If at various points during the relevant period you performed work as a temporary agency contractor and an employee, the Claims Administrator will attempt to divide the “wages” portion of any settlement payment to W-2 and 1099 proportional to the amount of time you were an employee and a temporary agency contractor, respectively.