Published
April 20, 2026
Updated
July 16, 2026
This settlement resolved claims that Google steered Black and “Black+” employees at job levels 3–6 in California and New York into lower job levels and pay. It is now closed — the court granted final approval in May 2026, the objection and claim windows have passed, and the case is in the payout phase. Here is what it covered.
What Was the Google Race Discrimination Settlement?
This class action settlement resolved allegations that Google LLC discriminated against Black and “Black+” employees — plaintiffs alleged Google steered them into lower job levels and lower pay than comparable colleagues, and that this leveling and pay disparity carried through their careers at the company. Google denied the allegations and did not admit any wrongdoing or liability. The case is Curley v. Google LLC, No. 4:22-cv-01735-KAW, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.The court granted final approval in mid-May 2026, following the May 7, 2026 final-approval hearing. It is now closed: the deadline to opt out or object was March 20, 2026, and the individualized claim-submission window (reported to have closed on or about July 6, 2026) has also passed. The settlement is now in the claim-review and payout phase, with approved payments expected roughly between late 2026 and mid-2027. There is nothing left to file.
Status
Settlement Closed · Final Approval Granted
Final approval granted in May 2026; case is in the claim-review and payout phase.
Claim Deadline
Passed
Objection/exclusion deadline was March 20, 2026; the individualized claim window has also closed.
Settlement Fund
$50 Million
Individual payments calculated on a case-by-case basis by a court-appointed Trustee.
Proof Required
Yes
Claimant ID from the mailed Notice plus documentation of alleged discrimination and lost wages.
Who Was Covered by the Settlement?
The settlement class covered individuals whom Google’s own records identified as Black or “Black+” who held certain job levels in two states. “Black” referred to an employee Google’s records identified solely as Black or African American; “Black+” referred to an employee Google’s records identified as Black or African American in combination with one or more other races or ethnicities. The class included:• Employees at job levels 3 through 6 located in California at any time from March 18, 2018 through December 31, 2023
• Employees at job levels 3 through 6 located in New York at any time from October 15, 2017 through December 31, 2023
The class was estimated at roughly 3,715 current and former employees. Google uses an internal leveling system, and levels 3 through 6 generally spanned entry-level through staff-level individual-contributor roles across engineering, product, program management, design, research, and related professional positions.
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What Did the Settlement Provide?
The settlement established a $50,000,000 fund. Individual payments were not a flat amount — a court-appointed Trustee calculated each award on an individual basis. The claim form asked class members to submit evidence in three categories:• Alleged race discrimination or retaliation experienced at Google
• Financial losses attributed to the alleged discrimination, such as lower pay or lost promotions
• Emotional distress, with optional supporting documentation
Beyond the cash fund, the settlement required a set of non-monetary workplace changes, including pay-equity analyses to identify unexplained pay differences by race, greater pay transparency for applicants and employees, and limits on mandatory arbitration for employment-related disputes. The fund also covered attorneys’ fees, service awards, payroll taxes, and administration costs.
What Did the Lawsuit Allege?
The lawsuit alleged that Google discriminated against Black and “Black+” employees in leveling at hire, compensation, promotion, performance reviews, and related employment decisions — steering them into lower job levels and lower pay — and that Google retaliated against employees who complained about race discrimination. Google denied all of the allegations, maintained that it complied with applicable law, and did not admit liability as part of the settlement, which resolved disputed claims without any admission of wrongdoing.Key Dates
• Preliminary Approval: December 7, 2025• Opt-Out / Objection Deadline: March 20, 2026 (passed)
• Final Approval Hearing: May 7, 2026
• Final Approval: Granted mid-May 2026
• Claim-Submission Window: reported to have closed on or about July 6, 2026 (passed)
• Estimated Payout: roughly late 2026 to mid-2027
Case Information
• Caption: Curley v. Google LLC• Case No.: 4:22-cv-01735-KAW
• Court: U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
• Settlement Fund: $50,000,000
• Final Approval: Granted mid-May 2026
• Status: Closed — claim window passed; now in the payout phase
Sources
- Official Settlement Website — Curley Settlement
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California — Curley v. Google LLC, No. 4:22-cv-01735-KAW
- Court-authorized Notice of Class Action Settlement, Curley v. Google LLC
- Preliminary Approval Order dated December 7, 2025
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Relief
$50 million fund — individual payments set case-by-case by a court-appointed Trustee
Case Title
Curley v. Google LLC
Case Number
4:22-cv-01735-KAW
Court
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Final Approval
Granted mid-May 2026
Status
Closed — claim window passed; now in the payout phase
Official Website
Curley Settlement.com
