Wal-mart must pay $6.5 million to workers for Overtime Wage and Hour Dispute
Wal-mart just lost another case involving overtime wage and-hour class action case and must pay $6.5 million in compensatory damages to the class of about 56,000 Wal-mart employees in Minnesota. It may not seem like a lot, but it is a start, in this long battle involving rest breaks and Minnesota labor laws. According to Tuesday's ruling in the bench trial that lasted three months, Judge Robert King, ruled in favor of the employees.
This is the third verdict regarding overtime wage disputes against the big box retailer, since 2005. In 2006, a Pennsylvania Jury awarded a verdict of $78 million against Walmart and in 2005 a California Jury awarded a verdict of $172 million against Wal-Mart. Of course, both cases are on appeal. The giant big box retailer, allegedly stated " they'll never settle in a million years. ... and that 'They will try the cases until the cows come home", according to the Plaintiff Attorney in these cases.
It will be interesting to see how this all turns out. I am certain that they will appeal the recent $6.5 million Judge verdict, in an effort to be consistent with their stance on not paying for these claims.
Click here to read more on this case in the article by Alison Frankel, "Wal-Mart Loses $6.5 Million Wage-and-Hour Class Action In Minnesota" in AM Law Daily.
