‘Secret’ Pacts Between Agencies, Attorneys Raise Some Hackles

Oracle recently accused the Labor Department of having a “secret” agreement to share information with private attorneys who represent workers suing the company over alleged workplace bias—all while the agency pursued its own claims that Oracle discriminated against women and minorities to the tune of $400 million in lost wages.

What the software company calls a “secret” pact is otherwise known as a “common interest agreement,” and the DOL has called Oracle’s accusation “wholly meritless.” These information-sharing pacts between enforcement agencies and private attorneys are “routine and consistent,” the agency filing said.

Several attorneys told Bloomberg Law this is the ...