NRA Lobbying Lawyer Dismisses Suit Against His Former Boss at Video Game Company
Wade Callender, the general counsel of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, and Randall Pitchford II, CEO of Gearbox Software LLC, largely known for developing the "Borderlands" video game series, agreed to drop their suits against each other after coming to an agreement and an apology, according to court documents.
October 04, 2019 at 12:57 PM
3 minute read
The top lawyer for the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action and his former boss at a Frisco, Texas-based video game company dismissed their lawsuits Thursday against each other.
Wade Callender, the general counsel of the NRA, and Randall Pitchford II, CEO of Gearbox Software LLC, largely known for developing the "Borderlands" video game series, agreed to drop their suits against each other with prejudice after coming to an agreement and an apology, according to court documents.
"Upon review of all evidence, it was the opinion of counsel that the evidence exonerated Randy Pitchford from the allegations against him; all misunderstandings between the parties have been corrected, and apologies were exchanged. Because the parties are mutually bound by confidentially, no additional statements will be forthcoming," the dismissal statement says.
Attorneys for Callender and for Pitchford and Gearbox did not immediately respond to request for comment Friday.
Callender served as the general counsel of Gearbox Software from June 2010 to July 2018. In November 2018, Gearbox filed suit against Callender in Collin County District Court claiming he misused funds for vacations and gun club memberships. Pitchford and Gearbox also claimed Callender asked the company to pay for his MBA without disclosing that he planned on leaving the company.
Callender then filed suit against Gearbox and Pitchford in Dallas County District Court claiming Pitchford had employees hide and destroy a USB device with "underage" porn on it and further claimed that Pitchford used company money to hold parties where "adult men have reportedly exposed themselves to minors." Callender also claimed Pitchford made unfulfilled compensation promises to Callender and "secretly saddled Gearbox's employees with the burden of repaying private, personal $12 [million] 'bonus' that Randy Pitchford rerouted from Gearbox's publisher directly to Randy's side entity, 'Pitchford Entertainment Media Magic.'"
After Callender filed his suit, Pitchford immediately took to Twitter to deny the allegations and said he would prevail in the suit.
"The attacks made by my former friend and colleague have no basis in reality or law. He is simply trying to shake me down for money," Pitchford tweeted in January.
Pitchford later tweeted that child abuse is horrific and said he was hurt a former friend made those allegations against him. Callender and Pitchford had been friends before Gearbox was founded.
"It is very painful that a former friend and colleague would lie to try to associate me with such vile behavior in his own greedy pursuit of money," Pitchford tweeted.
The cases were consolidated in May in Dallas County District Court. A trial had tentatively been scheduled for May 26, 2020, according to the online docket.
Callender became deputy executive director and general counsel of the NRA's political arm in September.
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