$50M Google discrimination class action settlement

Google has agreed to a $50 million class action settlement to resolve claims it discriminated against Black employees in the workplace.

The Google settlement benefits individuals identified in Google’s records as Black or Black+ who worked in job levels 3, 4, 5 and/or 6 in a job located in California from March 18, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2023, and/or job levels 3, 4, 5 and/or 6 in a job located in New York from Oct. 15, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2023.

According to a class action lawsuit, Google discriminated against its Black employees by failing to hire them, assigning them to lower-level jobs, paying them less, failing to promote them and more. Plaintiffs in the Google discrimination lawsuit say these actions were taken as part of a racially hostile work environment.

The Google discrimination lawsuit claims the company violated federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws.

Google has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve the allegations with a $50 million class action settlement.

Under the terms of the Google settlement, class members can receive a cash payment. Exact payments will vary depending on the number of participating class members and the amount each class member can prove they are owed.

Class members who have documentation of financial losses, emotional distress and other damages may be eligible for a larger payment than class members who do not have such documentation.

The settlement also includes non-monetary relief. Google has agreed to continue analyzing employee pay to identify unexplained racial differences, maintain methods for employees to report concerns, maintain robust leveling policies, provide information regarding salary ranges and more.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is March 20, 2026.

The final approval hearing for the Google discrimination settlement is scheduled for May 7, 2026.

If the court approves the settlement, class members should fill out and submit a claim form and IRS Forms W-4 and W-9 to receive an individual settlement payment. The claim form is available by logging into the settlement website using the Claimant ID provided at the top of the notice that members will receive.

Who’s Eligible

All individuals identified in Google’s records produced to Settlement Class Counsel on Nov. 20, 2024, as Black or Black+ who worked in job levels 3, 4, 5 and/or 6 in a job located in California at any time from March 18, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2023, and/or job levels 3, 4, 5 and/or 6 in a job located in New York at any time from Oct. 15, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2023, excluding employees who (a) exclusively held a job that Google’s records identified as being within a legal job family or subfamily, or (b) are identified in Google’s records as having executed a general release of claims at any time between Oct. 15, 2017 (for New York employees) or March 18, 2018 (for California employees) and Dec. 7, 2025.

Potential Award

TBD

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

N/A

Case Name

Curley, et al. v. Google LLC, Case No. 4:22-cv-01735-KAW, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California

Final Hearing

05/07/2026

Settlement Website

CurleySettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Curley Settlement
c/o Atticus Administration
P.O. Box 64053
St. Paul, MN 55164
[email protected]
800-401-4804

Class Counsel

Linda D. Friedman
STOWELL & FRIEDMAN LTD

Defense Counsel

Carson H. Sullivan
Felicia A. Davis
Emily R. Pidot
Sara B. Tomezsko
PAUL HASTINGS LLP