A New York judge on Friday rejected a request by attorneys representing plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against Google to compel rival law firms to contribute to their legal fees, according to a court filing and reports from Reuters.
The lawsuit centers on allegations of anti-competitive practices in Google’s digital advertising technology. The attorneys seeking the fee contribution argued that other firms who have filed similar suits against Alphabet, Google’s parent company, should share in the costs of litigation, particularly if those firms benefit from any settlements or judgments achieved in the initial case.
Manhattan Judge Analisa Torres denied the motion, finding no legal basis to force the contribution. The decision leaves the requesting attorneys responsible for their own legal expenses.
The move comes as Google faces increasing scrutiny over its dominance in the digital advertising market. The class action lawsuit alleges that Google illegally maintained a monopoly, harming advertisers and consumers. The case is one of several legal challenges confronting the tech giant, alongside ongoing investigations by the Department of Justice and state attorneys general.
In a separate but related development on March 11, 2026, Google completed its acquisition of Wiz, a cloud and AI security platform. The acquisition, announced by Google LLC, is intended to bolster Google Cloud’s security capabilities and address growing cybersecurity threats in the age of artificial intelligence. Wiz will continue to operate under its own brand, according to a press release. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, highlighted the acquisition as a strategic investment in cloud security.
The legal dispute over attorney fees remains ongoing, with no immediate appeals planned, according to sources familiar with the case. The outcome of the class action lawsuit itself is still uncertain and a trial date has not yet been set.
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