MINNEAPOLIS, July 1, 2008

Wal-Mart Loses Lawsuit Over Work Breaks

Minnesota Judge Rules Superstore Forced Employees To Work Off The Clock

  • The ruling follows similar judgments against Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania and California.

    The ruling follows similar judgments against Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania and California.  (AP)

  • Interactive Eye On The Economy

    In-depth features on U.S. markets, taxes, employment and the Federal Reserve.

(AP)  A Minnesota judge ruled that Wal-Mart cut short employees' rest and meal breaks and forced them to work off the clock, violating the state's labor laws 2 million times.

The judge's order in the class-action lawsuit against the discount retailer awards the plaintiffs $6.5 million in compensatory damages.

An attorney for the plaintiffs expects Wal-Mart will pay much more than that after a jury in October considers a civil penalties and punitive damages.

Justin Perl, who represented the plaintiffs, says Dakota County Judge Robert King Jr.'s ruling sends a message to Wal-Mart that the company must pay for its mistakes.

The ruling, which was handed to the parties Monday evening, comes after similar judgments against Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania and California. Wal-Mart is appealing those rulings.

Wal-Mart did not immediately comment.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx
  • CBSNews.com on Digg
by cheetah-man7 July 3, 2008 6:08 PM EDT
Shut up you liberals. I would shop at Walmart but am afraid that my rich neighbors would think I am poor and gossip about it.

Posted by moneybags77


Assuming you have money (and that is a big assumption) you clearly do not have the class that goes along with money and power - only the ''wannabe'' attitude of the poor or neuvo-riche. Your name alone tells us all that! Sophisticated people of money do not brag about their assets nor show off their wealth. P.S. There are many millionaires who shop at WalMart on a regular basis.
Reply to this comment
by July 2, 2008 6:36 PM EDT
"hi welcome to commiemart"
dangerous foods isle 10, poisonus toys isle 13, no need for federal laws, cust service desk
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti July 2, 2008 6:26 PM EDT
Wal-Mart shoppers = communist sympathizers.
Reply to this comment
by July 2, 2008 2:48 PM EDT
triplet-man: sad but true friend, sad but true. welcome to the united states of corp. america
Reply to this comment
by July 2, 2008 2:48 PM EDT
triplet-man: sad but true friend, sad but true. welcome to the united states of corp. america
Reply to this comment
by triplet-man July 2, 2008 2:42 PM EDT
crazycwp

It''''s time to bring the unions back and do away with the right to work laws. The us labor dept. is supposed to protect us but the people incharge of that are the same ones who own the corporations who want to screw us out of our benefits. Regulate trucking again and let the truck driver make a living again.


Exactly RIGHT! Why does it take a LAW suit in court to straighten out something that the LABOR dept is "protecting" workers from??
Reply to this comment
by triplet-man July 2, 2008 2:38 PM EDT
Dear jerriemc23

there are rules that are called "laws" and some of them are called "federal", and it just so happens this one is called the "fair wage act". If you work at a place, they put this sign up in a "breakroom" so you can "sue" ppl like walmart for voilating them.


PROBLEM IS... when you are working at Walmart you probably can''t AFFORD the justice that you deserve because you can''t hire an attorney. The only attorneys that will take cases like this are the "class action" lawsuits Where they can make a BUNCH of money. Individual lawsuits they won''t even mess with.
Reply to this comment
by July 2, 2008 1:33 PM EDT
Shut up you liberals. I would shop at Walmart but am afraid that my rich neighbors would think I am poor and gossip about it.

Posted by moneybags77

so you''d rather have ppl not talking about you than fair pay and worker rights? wow. i bet your mortage is 4000.00 a month and one day you''ll be so broke i''ll see you at wally world as a greeter
Reply to this comment
by July 2, 2008 1:17 PM EDT
sorry ianlou, wrong person (my bad)
Reply to this comment
by July 2, 2008 1:16 PM EDT
dear ianlou,
there are rules that are called "laws" and some of them are called "federal", and it just so happens this one is called the "fair wage act". If you work at a place, they put this sign up in a "breakroom" so you can "sue" ppl like walmart for voilating them.
Reply to this comment

Exclusive Webshow

Does dad need a nursing home? Dr. LaPook talks with a geriatrician about navigating a difficult decision.
Watch Now

  • MOST POPULAR
Latest News
News in Pictures
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Connect with CBS News

Stay connected with the CBS News using your favorite social networks and online news applications: