April 24, 2014.

Tech Companies Agree to Settle Wage Suit

"You know this, Winston," said O’Brien. "Don’t deceive yourself. You did know it----you have always known it."

Four big Silicon Valley technology companies agreed to settle a lawsuit in which 64,000 employees accused them of conspiring not to recruit each other's workers, depressing wages.

Yes, he saw now, he had always known it. But there was no time to think of that. All he had eyes for was the truncheon in the guard’s hand. It might fall anywhere; on the crown, on the tip of the ear, on the upper arm, on the elbow----

Terms of the settlement involving Apple Inc., AAPL +8.20%  Google Inc., Intel Corp. INTC 0.00%  and Adobe Systems Inc. ADBE -1.82%  weren't immediately released.

The elbow! He had slumped to his knees, almost paralysed, clasping the stricken elbow with his other hand. Everything had exploded into yellow light. Inconceivable, inconceivable that one blow could cause such pain! The light cleared and he could see the other two looking down at him. The guard was laughing at his contortions. One question at any rate was answered. Never, for any reason on earth, could you wish for an increase of pain. Of pain you could wish only one thing: that it should stop. Nothing in the world was so bad as physical pain. In the face of pain there are no heroes, no heroes, he thought over and over as he writhed on the floor, clutching uselessly at his disabled left arm.

The settlement was confirmed by Kelly M. Dermody, a lawyer for the plaintiffs at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP. "This is an excellent resolution of the case that will benefit class members," Ms. Dermody said in a statement.