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Itagaki sues Tecmo President

The developer is to leave Team Ninja to pursue legal action over unpaid bonuses and "disingenuous statements"

Tomonobu Itagaki has reportedly quit Team Ninja and filed a law suit against, its parent company, Tecmo's president Yoshimi Yasuda.

In an open letter to fans, published at 1UP, Itagaki said he was claiming JPY 148 million (USD 1.42 million) in damages over "unpaid completion bonuses" and for "disingenuous statements" made towards him.

"I, Tomonobu Itagaki, hereby announce that on the 14th of May 2008 I filed a complaint in the Tokyo District Court against Tecmo Co, Ltd for unpaid completion bonuses, and against the President of Tecmo, Yoshimi Yasuda, for such unlawful acts as unreasonable and disingenuous statements made towards me, claiming damages in total of 148 million yen," the director of Ninja Gaiden 2 wrote.

"President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me 'if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.' In addition, he made demeaning remarks about me to my subordinates and colleagues, causing me significant emotional distress and worsening my personal relationships and work environment. Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo Co, Ltd."

"The conduct of Tecmo Co, Ltd and its president Yoshimi Yasuda towards me has been unbefitting of a publicly-listed company. I have filed this lawsuit with a strong intent to question the social responsibility of Tecmo Co, Ltd and its President Yoshimi Yasuda," he added.