A Connecticut federal judge has approved a $60.5 million settlement in an antitrust class-action case involving six aerospace engineering firms accused of suppressing wages through no-poach agreements. The court also approved approximately $22.8 million in attorney fees and litigation expenses, alongside $20,000 service awards for each of the nine named plaintiffs.
The settlements, finalized between January and December 2024, involved the following companies: RTX Corp., Pratt & Whitney Division; Cylent Inc.; Agills Engineering Inc.; QuEST Global Services N.A. Inc.; Parametric Solutions, Inc.; and Belcan Engineering Group. Approximately $40 million from the settlement will be distributed to about 43,000 aerospace workers employed by the defendants or their subsidiaries between 2011 and 2025.
In addition to the civil case, a criminal case was filed under the Sherman Act against the named firms for their alleged illegal practices. However, the defendants were acquitted in 2023.
Garrison Law partner Josh Goodbaum played a vital role as local counsel in the case, collaborating with attorneys from Quinn Emanuel, Dicello Levitt, and Hurwitz Sagarin Slossberg & Knuff, LLC, to represent the plaintiffs. Their combined efforts helped secure a significant recovery for affected employees, addressing both the harms caused by suppressed wages and broader issues within the labor market.
Attorneys Daniel L. Brockett and Manisha Sheth of Quinn Emanuel noted the defendants’ resistance and the difficulties in defining a labor market in antitrust litigation. Ultimately, Judge Sarala V. Nagala’s efficient handling of the case ensured timely relief for the workers and reinforced accountability within the industry.
Learn more about the victory here.