@3jsq this NJ case is from 2018 it seems. Cases where filed before the EEOC letter issued last year. But no case got to trial and to a verdict. Looks like cases are settled for confidential terms. If we had a trial and verdict of a jury award, that could help decide if you sign the IBM's agreement not to sue in court just be allowed to do a closed doors arbitration, without a jury, in return for an equivalent of 3 months pay. Imagine if a trial goes through verdict with millions $$ jury award, who will agree to give up such rights, not to mention that lawyers like locust will flood IBM with lawsuits without asking an upfront pay, in contingency terms. Even the YouTube video of a journalist posted bellow settled, could be for a lot of money given the person determination and change of 3 lawfirms all had to be paid I guess.
We don't know about US cases of settled , or suddenly dropped for nothing. But, in the UK we see a multi plantiffs case settled except 4 individuals who probably wanted, and may have hot, more:
https://www.theregister.com/2019/11/25/ibm_uk_settles_281_age_discrimination_cases/
There's a 2017 case in Texas, that was closed just as it was scheduled for trial. We don't know if it got settled and for how much. But same lawfirm filed another case with 15 plantiffs obviously they did good with their first case, as the judge there ordered IBM to provide Ginni's emails related to age discrimination exchanged with top executives :
https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2020/09/22/ibm_sued_again_for_age_discrimination/
Of course the EEOC helps but will it ho to trial or settled without IBM admitting wrong doing? There are other cases before the EEOC letter was published, including class action lawsuit.
If one case ends with a jury verdict this will be helpful for new cases instead of the confidential settlements so far. Let's hope one case wil do it finally.