Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
A $415 million antitrust class action settlement was reached with tech workers and Apple, Google, and other tech companies to resolve allegations that the tech companies had a secret agreement not to recruit software engineers from each other’s companies, keeping salaries artificially low. If you worked for Adobe, Apple, Google, Intel, Intuit, Lucasfilm or Pixar, you may qualify for benefits from this class action settlement.
The Apple, Google anti-poaching class action lawsuit was filed by tech employees about four years ago alleging that the companies kept salaries for software engineers artificially low after making secret deals with each other that they wouldn’t try to hire, or poach, from each others’ companies when looking for new software engineers.
The original anti-trust class action lawsuit was filed against Adobe, Apple, Google, Intel, Intuit, Lucasfilm, and Pixar in May 2011 after the Justice Department revealed what it learned following an anti-trust investigation, in which the the senior executives of the tech companies had apparently struck deals with each other not to hire employees from each others’ companies. The agreement also allegedly led to de facto salary caps and prevented upward mobility.
It was alleged that the anti-poaching agreement led to a 10 to 15 percent reduction in salaries for tech engineers. The class is made up of about 64,000 software engineers.
Intuit, Lucasfilm and Pixar paid $20 million in a class action settlement in May 2014, which was approved by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh.
Judge Koh preliminarily approved the $415 million class action settlement in March after she had previously rejected a $325 million proposed settlement in August 2014. The anti-poaching class action settlement was reached between the parties in January.
The tech companies were interested in reaching a settlement in the anti-poaching class action lawsuit to avoid a trial, which could result in the exposure of embarrassing emails between top officials at Apple, Google, Intel, Adobe, Intuit and the others, in which the deals were allegedly struck.
The tech companies do not admit to any wrongdoing, but agreed to settle this anti-poaching class action lawsuit in order to avoid the cost and risk of going to trial.
Who’s Eligible
This class action settlement is for technical professionals with job titles such as Software Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Component Designer, Application Developers, Programmer, and Product Developer, who worked for the following companies during the following time periods:
- For Adobe from May 2005 through December 2009
- For Apple from March 2005 through December 2009
- For Google from March 2005 through December 2009
- For Intel from March 2005 through December 2009
- For Intuit from June 2007 through December 2009
- For Lucasfilm from January 2005 through December 2009
- For Pixar from January 2005 through December 2009
Potential Award
The amount each Class Member will receive will be based on a formula using the tech worker’s base salary paid during their employment with the tech company during the Class Period. Class Members will receive a fraction of the settlement fund based on the following formula:
Class Member’s individual total base salary paid on the basis of employment in Class Positions during the Class Period
÷
Total of base salaries of all Class Members paid on the basis of employment in Class Positions during the Class Period
Proof of Employment
Proof of employment is based on records provided by the tech companies maintained by their respective human resources departments and will not be subject to challenge by Class Members.
Claim Form Deadline
N/A
Case Name
The Tech Company Anti-poaching Class Action Lawsuit is In re: High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 5:11-cv-02509, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Final Hearing
A Fairness Hearing was held on 07/09/2015.
As of August 6, 2015, the court has not yet issued an order on settlement approval. No checks will be processed until the court issues an order and it becomes final. An order becomes final upon the expiration of 30 days after the order is issued by the court and if there are no appeals. Please check back for further updates.
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Gilardi & Co. LLC
High Tech Employee Settlement
P.O. Box 8060
San Rafael, CA 94912-8060
Fax 415-256-9756
info@hightechemployeelawsuit.com
Class Counsel
LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN, LLP
JOSEPHY SAVERI LAW FIRM
Defense Counsel
JONES DAY
KEKER & VAN NEST LLP
O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP
MAYER BROWN LLP
MUNGER TOLLES & OLSON LLP
PAUL HASTINGS LLP
SIDEMAN & BANCROFT LLP
BINGHAM MCCUTHEN
SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON
MORGAN LEWIS & BROCKIUS LLP
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
UPDATE: The high-tech employee class action settlement has paid out! Checks were mailed the week of December 21, 2015. If you received a check, let us know in the comments. Congrats to everyone who got paid!
13 thoughts onApple, Google Anti-Poaching Antitrust Class Action Settlement
Add me please
Add me please