In a significant legal move, two U.S. law firms, Bartlit Beck and Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer, have requested an $85 million fee for their role in securing a $700 million class-action settlement with Google. This settlement resolves allegations that Google imposed anti-competitive practices through its Play Store, overcharging users by restricting app distribution and in-app payment options.
If approved by U.S. District Judge James Donato, the settlement would see Google pay $630 million into a consumer fund, alongside $70 million into a fund administered by U.S. states and territories. Consumers eligible for compensation would receive at least $2, with additional payments based on their purchases between August 2016 and September 2023. Google has not admitted to any wrongdoing but has agreed to implement policy changes that benefit both developers and users.
The legal fees being requested, approximately 13.5% of the consumer settlement portion, reflect nearly 100,000 hours of work over three years. While no state has raised objections to the fee request, Play Store users still have the opportunity to voice any concerns before the final approval.
