‘Costly trial delay’ plea in Infinity Ward case

The two Infinity Ward heads fired from Activation are hoping to block a delay on a multi-million dollar legal suit.

It is urged that Activision’s new aim to include EA in the lawsuit should be stopped, as it will extend the case at a heavy price for the former Infinity Ward bosses Vince Zampella and Jason West.

The pair are seeking “in excess of $36 million” in damages – as well as the rights to the Modern Warfare IP – having been marched out of their Infinity Ward studio last year.

Activision initially accused the pair of “insubordination”.

A showdown in the courts was set for May 2011, yet that is to be delayed as Activision wants to expand the scope of the case to include new accusations that EA unduly held a meeting with West and Zampella while the pair worked at Infinity Ward.

New documents obtained by Kotaku allege that Activision knew of EA’s alleged involvement in the case over six months beforehand.

West and Zampella claimed they were “paying for this litigation from our own funds”, and legal fees have so far exceeded the pair’s “combined annual salaries".

In closing, the pair claim that “any delay of the trial in this lawsuit would increase the financial and non-financial burdens and would continue to distract us from running our business and earning a living.”