US businessman loses case of sexual harassment and now the case of costs

The chief executive of Santa Monica-based video game giant Activision Blizzard Inc, Bobby Kotick, lost his legal battle against a claim of sexual harassment by a flight attendant named Cynthia Madvig some time ago.

But he’s now also lost his battle against her lawyer, Patricia Glaser, for her costs, according to the LA Times. Kotick tried to settle with her for $200,000 but she said he owed slightly more than $1 million.

The dispute went to arbitration and in March 2009, the arbitrator issued a final award in Glaser’s favour, saying she was owed a total of $1.42 million.

But Kotick continued to resist, asking that the award should be reduced by just over $100,000. The court denied that request and granted Glaser’s firm the full amount in April 2009. He appealed again, this time to the California Court of Appeal.

And it said earlier last month that he needs to pay up. So maybe it’s time he did, although given his past form, that seems unlikely.