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A federal appeals court ruled that more than 1 million women can be plaintiffs against Walmart in a gender-bias lawsuit. This means that if the company loses, it would have to pay out billions.
The lawsuit started nine years ago with six women who sued Walmart for gender discrimination. They say Walmart paid them less than men for the same work, and that they were given fewer chances for promotion. This new court ruling says all women who have worked at Walmart since 2001 can be plaintiffs in the case. That’s about one million women.
ABC says this has big implications for women’s rights.
REPORTER: “Some advocates for women were cheering today saying this case sends a message at a time when women still earn about 79 cents for every dollar men earn.”
GREENBERGER: “I can’t imagine a bigger message being sent to big employers overall that they can be held accountable, the laws applies to them, they are not too big to be held responsible.”
Walmart employs more Americans than any other private corporation. HLN says this case has people running to their lawyers, and other companies running scared.
“There are a lot of people who may be watching right now who are thinking, ‘Maybe I could be part of that lawsuit.’ ... It’s one reason why so many other companies are scared to death of this kind of lawsuit. It’s not just Walmart. They’re afraid of suits that can get this big.”
The retail giant argues that the experiences of the six women are not representative of how all its female employees feel. But the plaintiffs say they’ve got the evidence, and it’s straight from the horse’s mouth.
REPORTER: “It also keeps exhaustive records, which were used by the plaintiffs to bolster their case.”
LAWYER: “Those records show that although women are 2/3 of thee employees at Walmart they only hold one-third of the managerial jobs.”
The decision came from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and was close at a 6 to 5 vote. Walmart says it will ask the Supreme Court to review the ruling, and it could get overturned. The New York Times points out that the Ninth Circuit Court has been criticized for being too liberal.
“Those who criticize the court say the best evidence for their argument is the Supreme Court, which overturns the decisions of the Ninth more often than those of any other circuit.”
Walmart also argues that this many plaintiffs would be impossible to handle. 24/7 Wall Street advises the company to cut a deal.
“Wal-Mart now faces a long case, played out in front of the public and the press. It may want to find a way to pay off the plaintiffs and call it a day.”
The Supreme Court could see the case in the fall, but it might still take years to resolve.
Writer: Lauren Zima
Producer: Newsy Staff
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