A class-action lawsuit is seeking $9 billion in lost wages from Apple and other companies for their alleged roles in preventing employees from being hired by rivals, the New York Times reports. Apple, Google, Intel, and Adobe are negotiating to settle the case.
Though the companies “privately scoff” at the $9 billion amount, the employees — about 100,000 of them — contend the facts are so convincing and embarrassing that “they won’t settle for anything less than a blindingly high number.” A number of emails from Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs and Google chief executive Eric Schmidt reveal the anti-poaching agreement between the companies, with Google seeking permission from Jobs to hire an Apple employee at one point; the offer was rescinded after Jobs objected.
The lawsuit was granted class-action status in October 2013, but the number of employees is higher than was initially reported.
Each employee would be owed about $90,000 in lost wages if the $9 billion amount is accepted.
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