US Judge Denies Class Action Status in Anti-Poaching Conspiracy Suit, For Now

US District Judge Lucy Koh ruled that, for now, former Apple, Google and other tech company employees cannot yet grant class action certification in a lawsuit that accuses companies of illegal conspiracy not to poach each other’s employees, reports Reuters.

In a decision made public on Friday, Judge Lucy Koh said the plaintiffs couldn’t demonstrate they have been harmed by the claimed conspiracy between the aforementioned tech companies.

The judge, however, says she has seen a significant amount of evidence since hearing oral arguments on whether to certify as class, so she left the door open for the plaintiffs to seeks class certification.

As we previously reported, former employees of Apple, Google, Adobe, Intel, Pixar, Lucasfilm and Intuit accused these tech companies of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and California’s Cartwright Act, as they had an agreement not to poach each other’s employees.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was ordered to testify in the case, as he had the role as COO at the time of the agreements. Along with Tim Cook, Google’s Eric Schmidt and Intel’s Paul Otellini were ordered to testify in this case.