Marty O’Donnell is suing Bungie for several violations of benefits guaranteed to him as a past employee and composer for the famous Halo franchise.
A Venture Beat article has links to the suit filed against Bungie studios on May 1. The lawsuit not only targets the company, but also files charges against Bungie’s chief executive, Harold Ryan.
O’Donnell’s lawsuit states that “unused vacation time, paid time off, sabbatical time, and other benefits” are entitled to him through a proper payment. The following statement is from the document:
Ryan has caused Bungie to violate applicable law and the Company’s policies and practices regarding payment of O’Donnell’s accrued but unpaid vacation time, paid time off, sabbatical time, and other benefits. Separate and apart from the conduct alleged herein, O’Donnell has separate grievances against Bungie and Ryan that are being pursued in arbitration. If it is determined that the claims O’Donnell asserts against Ryan in arbitration are not subject to arbitration, then O’Donnell reserves the right to amend this Complaint to include those additional claims in this action.
Bungie and Ryan are said to have agreed upon a payment for O’Donnell’s benefits, but never followed through on supposed company polices designed to pay employees for unused vacation time and paid time off. Language in the lawsuit makes it seem that this is commonly practiced for several, if not many, employees.
Bungie and Ryan are denying the claims and response says that “Ryan acted in good faith and inconformity with all applicable statutes, rules, forms, and orders.” The responses to O’Donnell’s lawsuit were filed on May 27.
Earlier in the year, O’Donnell publicly announced his departure from Bungie after an alleged wrongful termination.
I’m saddened to say that Bungie’s board of directors terminated me without cause on April 11, 2014.
— Marty O’Donnell (@MartyTheElder) April 16, 2014
The termination is mentioned in the lawsuit. Bungie responded with a statement to the Twitter post that wishes O’Donnell the best following the firing:
For more than a decade, Marty O’Donnell filled our worlds with unforgettable sounds and soundtracks, and left an indelible mark on our fans. Today, as friends, we say goodbye. We know that wherever his journey takes him, he will always have a bright and hopeful future. We wish him luck in all his future endeavors.
O’Donnell’s was fired while the much anticipated Bungie game titled Destiny is being developed. He composed the music for Destiny as well as the $3.4 billion Halo series, the lawsuit says. O’Donnell has been the “Audio Director” of Bungie since his hiring in 2000 and has crafted a well-known video game soundtrack synonymous with an unprecedented popular game franchise.