Courts Differ on Wal-Mart Suits
Courts in two states yesterday differed on workers’ quests for class action status in lawsuits against Wal-Mart.
A Missouri appeals court ruled that a class action suit could proceed after a trial judge revises definitions for subclasses, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.).
A New York court refused to certify a class in a similar suit, saying the claims should be tried individually.
Courts in two states yesterday differed on workers’ quests for class action status in lawsuits against Wal-Mart.
The Western Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that a class action suit could proceed after a trial judge revises definitions for subclasses, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.). Workers there claimed the retailer underpaid them by forcing them to work off the clock and manipulating time records.
A New York court refused to certify a class in a similar suit, saying the claims should be tried individually.
The Missouri case is Hale v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., No. WD66162.
Wal-Mart faces dozens of lawsuits in state courts over its pay practices. In other cases, courts have certified class actions in five states and refused certification in 12 states, the newspaper reports.
