Judge Questions Settlement in Silicon Valley No-Poaching Case
A federal judge Thursday heavily questioned a $324 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against Apple, Google, Adobe and Intel alleging illegal hiring practices, leaving it unclear whether she will sign off on the deal later this year.
“I have concerns,” U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh said during a back-and-forth with lawyers that lasted nearly two hours. “I would like to think about it further, but I do have concerns about whether this is a good settlement for the plaintiffs.”
The settlement, which gives approximately 64,000 workers involved an average of a few thousand dollars each, was a big victory for the companies, allowing them to avoid an embarrassing trial while sustaining a relatively minor financial hit. Apple, for example, has nearly 500 times as much in its cash reserves as the total settlement amount.
More: Judge Questions Settlement in Silicon Valley No-Poaching Case - San Jose Mercury News