Last week, we learned that Gearbox Software and its CEO Randy Pitchford filed a lawsuit against its former lawyer, Wade Callender. Now, it has been revealed that Wade Callender filed discrimination claim against the CEO, Randy Pitchford, who allegedly harassed him during his time at Gearbox for his belief in the Christian faith.
The discrimination claim was filed ten days before Wade Callender was reciprocally sued by Gearbox for “fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.” Wade Callender had this to say in the claim: “During my employment with the Respondent [Gearbox Software], I have been subjected to unfair standards and expectations based on my religion. Mr. Randy Pitchford (President & CEO) would constantly harass me based on my religious beliefs.” Callender also spoke of how Randy Pitchford would say that his religious beliefs were “retarded” and indicative of a broken brain; he also says that Mr. Pitchford would give him gifts that ridiculed Christianity.
Gearbox’s former lawyer states in the claim that the harassment began in June 2010, around the time when he started working at the company. After reporting the harassment to Human Resources, Callender says that it became more severe afterward. “I believe I was retaliated against and terminated from my position based on my religion (Christian).”
The lawsuit that Gearbox filed against Wade Callender focuses on the latter being irresponsible regarding the financials of the company. Gearbox claims that Callender didn’t repay a number of loans and used his company card for personal expenses. In addition to the discrimination claim, Callender has filed yet another lawsuit, one accusing Randy Pitchford of receiving a secret $12 million dollar bonus from Borderlands that Callender believes should have gone to other employees of Gearbox; it also cites other issues of corporate irresponsibility. The example used involves a memory stick left by Randy Pitchford at a restaurant, one that contained corporate secrets and pornography. It seems that this fight between Gearbox Software and its CEO against Wade Callender can only get worse as more news comes to light.