In recent weeks, reports in several news outlets including The New York Times, have wholeheartedly swallowed Wal-Mart's propaganda and declared that, thanks to minor changes in its miserly health plan that still fails to cover almost half of its employees, Wal-Mart is now a socially responsible company. Thankfully, a recent article from The Morning News, a major paper in Northwest Arkansas, debunks this myth by revealing an unpleasant fact about the Behemoth from Bentonville: Wal-Mart is currently the subject of over 80 class action lawsuits from its current and former employees. These cases include the landmark Dukes vs. Wal-Mart case, in which 1.6 million current and former female employees of Wal-Mart are suing for gender discrimination, and 76, that's right, 76 cases of employees suing for being forced to work off the clock.
Here's a summary of five of the biggest suits against Wal-Mart:
AT A GLANCE
Wal-Mart faces more than 80 lawsuits filed by current and former employees, most of whom allege the retailer required them to work off the clock. Five of the largest class-action lawsuits include:Betty Dukes v. Wal-Mart
Class size: 1.6 million female plaintiffs
Filed: 2001
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Next action: Court to set briefing schedule on an appeal. Wal-Mart is seeking a rehearing on the class-action status
Potential financial impact: More than a billion dollars
Celia Hale v. Wal-Mart
Class size: 200,000 plaintiffs
Filed: 2002
Location: Jackson County, Mo.
Next action: Trial set for April 6
Potential financial impact: Unknown
Michelle Braun/Dolores Hummel v. Wal-Mart
Class size: 186,000 plaintiffs
Filed: 2002/2004, consolidated in 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Penn.
Next action: Wal-Mart to appeal, filed notice in December
Potential financial impact: $187.6 million
Andrea Savaglio v. Wal-Mart
Class size: 116,000 plaintiffs
Filed: 2001
Location: Alameda County, Calif.
Next action: Wal-Mart's appeal pending
Potential financial impact: $172 million
Nancy Braun v. Wal-Mart
Class size: 56,000 plaintiffs
Filed: 2003
Location: Hastings, Minn.
Next action: Judge to decide liability, back pay and willfulness by July 1
Potential financial Impact: Unknown
Sources: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. federal filings with U.S Securities & Exchange Commission, attorneys for respective plaintiffs.
Source: The Morning News
Posted by James - June 23, 2008 11:22 AM - In The News