The Supreme Court put the brakes on a massive job discrimination lawsuit against mega-retailer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., saying sweeping class-action status that could potentially involve hundreds of thousands of current and former female workers was simply too large.
The ruling Monday was a big victory for the nation's largest private employer, and the business community at large.
The high-profile case– perhaps the most closely watched of the high court's term– is among the most important dealing with corporate versus worker rights that the justices have ever heard, and could eventually impact nearly every private employer, large and small.
Toobin: Why justices shut down Wal-Mart case
Gisel Ruiz, Executive Vice President for Wal-Mart U.S., said in a statement the company was "pleased" with the court's ruling.
"Walmart has had strong policies against discrimination for many years. The Court today unanimously rejected class certification and, as the majority made clear, the plaintiffs’ claims were worlds away from showing a companywide discriminatory pay and promotion policy," the statement said. "By reversing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, the majority effectively ends this class action lawsuit.
“Walmart has a long history of providing advancement opportunities for our female associates and will continue its efforts to build a robust pipeline of future female leaders.”
The case is Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes (10-277).
So let me get this straight. TOO MANY people wanted justice so the Supreme Court simply threw it out in favor of the defendant because they're not interested in justice for that many people?
I'd hope that we have nine job openings coming up soon. The Supreme Court also recently sided with corporate America in the whole "unlimited campaigning for a candidate" issue, it's time that these judges were replaced.
This case was about lawyer greed, nothing more. The "victims" would have gotten a few thousand each and the lawyers would have collected half the settlement for themselves and then divided the other half between the thousands of people they had roped into claiming they were victims. If you have a real lawsuit, you don't need to be part of a class action. Class actions are nothing more than trial lawyer greed and some lawyers walk away with $100 million each. Just ask John Edwards.
By Any Means Neccessary
Not to mention the Eminent Domain decision giving corporations the right to destroy communities for profit.
McCarthy,
Funny you should use the word "greedy" as it pertains to lawyers and completely overlook the corporate exploitation and GREED which set the suit in motion.
Grow a brain, find some balance and use words that you understand.
So much for the goverment by the people....:P
Let me guess: 5-4 decision right? with the GOP activist judges once more voting against American citizens.
I hate Walmart, but a lot of these lawsuits only line the pockets of the greedy lawyers. Walmart sucks. Shop at Target and raise your standards people!
You'd be an idiot to think that only one party is siding with those corporations who line their pockets.....
The decision Unanimous. That means all the Justices ruled the same way. Even the liberal ones!!!!!!!!!!
No, EddyL, not even close. The actual decision was 9-0. I don't know how you could make such an idiotic mistake, because I'm sure a true scholar like yourself made certain to actually go to the Supreme Court website and look at the opinion before you jumped onto CNN to spew your predictably idiotic hyperpartisan comments. What a moron you are. Your stupidity makes moderates like me despise you partisan left-wingers just as much as the partisan right-wingers.
Fine by me. Walmart will never see a bloody penny of my money ever again. All these "Patriots" who rail about our President and the terrible economy, yet they themselves put small business owners out of business by patronizing Walmart, Costco, BJ's.... It is time for the American people to put the independent retailer back into power. Then and only then will our economy become balanced.
Yep, that's original thinking. I went into a local pet store the other day and it was like the land that time forgot. Creepy, dark, out of date products and over-priced. Plus, who wants to drive to 20 different stores to get the stuff you need? People with free gas I guess. Oh, and patriots like yourself that use the word "bloody."
Remember when businesses could hire who they wanted and invest their money where they wanted to?
Yeah...and they hired 5 year olds and paid them $.02 an hour.
Per the above, they obviously still can pick and choose who they want, and they have never been more empowered in our history to do so. Ever hear of the campaign finance laws? Corporate America owns the government now thanks to the supreme court which means corporate america owns YOU.
that's because parent's needed and wanted them to. Stop talking about a bygone era of child labor, that's NOT what I was talking about. Businesses are becoming a government venture. With proposed increases in taxes on businesses the majority of revenue will be going to the gov. There will be no such thing as private business as regulation increases further and more than half of their revenue goes to Big Brother...
Too big to fail...to big to discriminate...i think we're beginning to like the way that sounds.
Wow. First they say that corporations are people too and can spend an unlimited amount of undisclosed money on any candidates they want. Now, they say that Wal-Mart can't be sued simply because the number of people that is represented is too big. So basically, even if you're a corporation, you had better cut pay to as many people as you possibly can, because the more people you can screw over arbitrarily, the more likely it will be tossed out.
It's really irritating when people who know nothing about law put "poor us" whining comments on a legal article. Anyone can file a lawsuit about anything in this country. We're the ONLY place on Earth that is true. The Supreme Court simply said this class action was too large.
The Supreme Court doing what it does best, protecting the corporations.
Haha!
its good to have friends in high places 🙂
So, they stopped the lawsuit because it was too big? Not because it was frivolous, but because "it was simply too large."
What? That doesn't even make sense.
Right? It seems like more plaintiffs=more legitimate complaint. Seriously doesn't make ANY sense.
Sure it does. Thats the great thing about the ruling. There has never been a class action lawsuit running into the billions of dollars like this. This ruling protects business and free enterprise from ambulance chasers and civil liberties cry babies.
The war on women marches on. Can't wait for my daughters to not have access to abortions, birth control, and to make less money for the same job as my sons.
anyone else here hate walmart? or are u just a corporate jewel nut
Whoops, I accidentally clicked abuse instead of reply. I'm from Arkansas, and quite a few people I know have worked for Walmart at various levels. They are not, repeat, NOT, good guys.
A CLASS ACTION lawsuit "simply too large"? I think we can assume conclusively that the Supreme Court IS, in fact, bought and paid for in full by Big Biz and the Justices are in violation of their oath. Congress can impeach them or the American People can. I think it's time the People hit the streets and REALLY take back their government.
Riiiiiiiight. I can just imagine you hitting the streets to "REALLY take back" your government. You'd be so passionate and energized . . . right up until the point when CSI or Dancing with the Stars came on. Then it'd be back to the comfy couch, Diet Coke in hand, to watch a good night of mindless TV.
where's the "unless it is too large" part of the "redress of grievences" clause?