Wal-Mart Settles Another Big Wage & Hour Class Action

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay up to $54.25 million to settle a wage and hour class action lawsuit involved breaks and off the clock work brought on behalf of roughly 100,000 employees in Minnesota. The class period runs from September 11, 1998 to November 14, 2008. As part of the settlement, Wal-Mart also agreed to maintain electronic systems, surveys and notices to stay compliant with wage and hour requirements under Minnesota law. Earlier this year, a judge found Wal-Mart to have committed two million violations. At the punitive damages stage, Wal-Mart faced a potential $2 billion liability. The court will hear a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement on January 14, 2009.