CWS 3.0: January 21, 2015

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Silicon Valley giants offer new settlement in anti-poaching lawsuit

Tech giants Apple, Google, Adobe Systems and Intel have proposed a $415 million settlement with a class of more than 60,000 workers who sued after the companies settled with the US Justice Department, promising to halt the practice but making no monetary payments.

A federal judge rejected a $324 million settlement last year, saying after attorneys’ fees, each class member would only receive about $4,000. At the time, the judge suggested a minimum settlement of $380 million. US District Court Judge Lucy Koh based her decision on the $20 million settlement made by Intuit, Lucasfilm and Pixar — initially part of the case. That settlement went to about 8 percent of the total class.

Agreements between the companies took shape beginning in 2005, according to the Justice Department. It concluded its investigation in 2010.

eBay settled a similar case last year involving an agreement with Intuit. That settlement was for $3.75 million.

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