Google's $50 Million Racial Discrimination Settlement: What Happens Next for Black and Black+ Employees

What did April Curley and the other plaintiffs allege against Google?

On March 18, 2022, April Curley — a Black former Google employee — filed a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Two additional named plaintiffs, Desiree Mayon (identified as Black+) and Ronika Lewis (identified as Black), later joined as Settlement Class Representatives.

The complaint alleged that Google discriminated against Black and Black+ employees on the basis of race across nearly every dimension of employment: hiring decisions, job assignment, leveling, compensation, promotions, performance reviews, allocation of resources, transfers, discipline, and attrition. The plaintiffs also alleged that Google retaliated against employees who raised concerns, failed to investigate complaints, and maintained a racially hostile work environment.

The case is formally known as Curley, et al. v. Google, LLC, Case No. 4:22-cv-01735-KAW. Google has denied all allegations and maintains that it has fully complied with applicable law. The court has made no findings of fault and has not ruled on the merits of the claims. The settlement is a compromise reached to avoid the expense and uncertainty of further litigation.

Who is included in the Google racial discrimination settlement class?

The settlement class covers Black and Black+ individuals identified in Google's employment records who held mid-level positions in California or New York during specific windows. The definition used is precise — here is who is included:

If you received a mailed notice addressed to you, Google's records indicate you are a class member. If you are unsure, contact the Claims Administrator at the number below.

Is there anything I still need to do before the May 7 hearing?

Most deadlines in this case have passed — the opt-out and objection deadlines were both March 20, 2026. However, one window remains open through tomorrow.

If you did not opt out and have been waiting, no action is required before the hearing. If the court approves the settlement on May 7, you will receive a separate notice explaining the claim filing process.

How do I file a claim and receive a payment from the Google settlement?

No claim form is available yet. The court must first grant final approval of the settlement at the May 7, 2026 hearing. If approval is granted, class members will receive a separate notice that includes instructions for submitting a claim.

Once that process opens, you will be asked to complete a Claim Form along with IRS Forms W-4 and W-9. The form will ask for evidence of alleged race discrimination and/or retaliation, financial losses, and emotional distress. The Claim Form will be accessible online using the Claimant ID provided on your mailed notice.

A Court-appointed Trustee — not Google — will review claims and determine individual payment amounts based on your specific facts. Your Claim Form will not be shared with Google at any point. All individual payment decisions made by the Trustee are final and non-appealable.

Settlement Class Counsel (Stowell & Friedman, Ltd.) will be available to assist class members through the claims process at no cost.

What non-monetary changes did Google agree to as part of the settlement?

Beyond the $50 million fund, Google agreed to a set of workplace practice commitments. Under the settlement, Google will analyze employee pay annually to identify racial disparities not explained by legitimate business criteria — before finalizing pay changes for the following year. Google will also maintain channels for employees to report pay and review concerns, with an obligation to investigate and take remedial action where appropriate.

Additional commitments include maintaining structured leveling policies designed to keep hiring-level decisions fair, providing salary range information to applicants and employees, and continuing its practice of not requesting applicants' prior salary history. Google also agreed not to require or enforce mandatory arbitration agreements for employment-related disputes through August 2026.

A full list of non-monetary terms is available in Section VII of the Settlement Agreement at curleysettlement.com/settlement-documents/.