California Lawyers Sue to Void Use of Outside Firms (Correct)

California’s Civil Rights Department violated state contracting law when it outsourced legal services for two high-profile discrimination lawsuits, according to a complaint filed Wednesday by the union representing state-employed attorneys.

The union—California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Employment—said the Civil Rights Department improperly contracted Olivier & Schreiber LLP and Outten & Golden LLP to work on employment discrimination cases against video game companies Activision Blizzard Inc. and Riot Games when the department should have relied on its own lawyers.

Activision makes the popular World of Warcraft game.

The State Personnel Board agreed with the department’s choice ...