Knorr and Wabtec employees file antitrust lawsuit to recover damages stemming from employers' "no-poach" conspiracy

Hausfeld files lawsuit against two of the world’s largest rail equipment suppliers, Knorr-Bremse AG (“Knorr”) and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (“Wabtec”), on behalf of a proposed class of employees, alleging that the two companies conspired and unlawfully agreed to restrain competition by entering into “no-poaching” agreements that barred each from hiring the other’s employees.

Late last week, Hausfeld filed a lawsuit against two of the world’s largest rail equipment suppliers, Knorr-Bremse AG (“Knorr”) and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (“Wabtec”), on behalf of a proposed class of employees, alleging that the two companies conspired and unlawfully agreed to restrain competition by entering into “no-poaching” agreements that barred each from hiring the other’s employees, thereby depressing employee compensation, limiting employee mobility, and stifling innovation.

“This illegal conspiracy among employers harmed thousands of their employees, for years. This lawsuit seeks money owed to Knorr and Wabtec employees whose earnings were less than what they should have been in a competitive market,” said Hausfeld partner Sathya Gosselin. 

Knorr and Wabtec are each other’s top competitors for rail equipment used in freight and passenger rail applications, and they also compete with each other to hire, attract, and retain employees— including rail equipment industry project managers, engineers, sales executives, business unit heads, and corporate officers. In November 2016, Faiveley Transport S.A. (“Faiveley”), formerly a global competitor in the rail equipment industry, merged with Wabtec. While investigating the Wabtec-Faiveley merger, the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) uncovered unlawful “no-poach” agreements among the three companies. On April 3, 2018, the DOJ filed suit against Knorr and Wabtec for violating U.S. antitrust laws. The companies have agreed to settle their claims with the DOJ—but without any compensation for injured employees.

Starting no later than 2009, Knorr, Wabtec, and Faiveley entered into a series of secret “no-poach” agreements involving promises and commitments to, among other things, refrain from soliciting each other’s employees. This conspiracy worked to deprive thousands of the companies’ employees—American rail-equipment industry workers—of higher compensation and denied these employees opportunities to advance their careers at other companies.

This important civil antitrust suit, filed by Hausfeld and its co-counsel Minto Law Group, LLC and Grabar Law Office, seeks monetary damages and an injunction.  Current and former Knorr, Wabtec, and Faiveley employees interested in learning more about this litigation and claims for compensation arising from this conduct are encouraged to email railemployeelawsuit@hausfeld.com for more information.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Deborah Schwartz 
Media Relations 
(240) 355-8838 
deborah@mediarelationsinc.com

About Hausfeld 

Hausfeld is a leading global law firm with offices in Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Düsseldorf, London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm has a broad range of complex litigation expertise, particularly in antitrust/competition, financial services, sports and entertainment, environmental, mass torts, consumer protection, and human rights matters, often with an international dimension. Hausfeld aims to achieve the best possible results for clients through its practical and commercial approach, avoiding litigation where feasible, yet litigating robustly when necessary. Hausfeld’s extensive experience with alternative and innovative fee models offers clients a diverse menu of engagement options and maximum flexibility in terms of managing their cost exposure.

Hausfeld is the only claimants’ firm to be ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a top tier firm in private enforcement of antitrust/competition law in both the United States and Europe. For more information about the firm, including recent trial victories and landmark settlements, please visit www.hausfeld.com.

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