Composer Martin O’Donnell, known for his compositions on the Halo franchise, had his contract terminated by his employer Bungie back in April, a move he claims was “without cause“.
Now, O’Donell has filed a lawsuit against his former employer - alleging that studio boss Harold Ryan was responsible for a failure to pay him in unpaid vacation time, paid time off and other benefits.
O’Donnell, of course, is best known for his work on the Halo series. He worked on the soundtracks for every major series installment until 2010’s Halo: Reach, composing the series’ iconic theme tune in the process.
At the time of his dismissal, O’Donnell was working on the score for the open-world co-op FPS Destiny. Bungie quelled rumors of unfair dismissal stating on their website that the break-up was amicable: “For more than a decade, Marty O’Donnell filled our worlds with unforgettable sounds and soundtracks, and left an indelible mark on our fans. Today, as friends, we say goodbye. We know that wherever his journey takes him, he will always have a bright and hopeful future. We wish him luck in all his future endeavors”.
O’Donnell’s allegations appear to directly contradict Bungie’s stance. It should be noted that the lawsuit doesn’t cover all of the composer’s grievances, some of which are being pursued in arbitration.
Shehzaan Abdulla
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