Rockstar dismisses $150m Grand Theft Auto lawsuit as 'bizarre'

Company claims producer Leslie Benzies exhibited 'conduct and performance' issues before his departure from GTA development studio, Rockstar North

Rockstar Games, the publisher behind the multimillion-selling Grand Theft Auto series has issued a response to the $150m (105m) lawsuit launched against it by former employee, Leslie Benzies.

In the brief statement, the company dismisses the allegations made in the 70-page suit, launched by Benzies through US law firm, Locke Lord. Benzies claims to have been encouraged to take a sabbatical in 2014, only to discover that Sam and Dan Houser, the founders of Rockstar, were conspiring to have him removed from the company. He claims that the duo sought to renege on a 2009 royalties deal which would ensure Benzies retained financial parity with the brothers. Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar has since launched a counteraction against Benzies.