[Vision2020] Wal-Mart Settles Lawsuit

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (July 22, 2009) Spokesman Review.

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Wal-Mart settles lawsuit by Washington workers for $35M

SEATTLE — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay up to $35 million to
settle a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of 88,000 workers at
Washington state stores who were forced to skip meals and rest breaks or
work off the clock.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer and lawyers for the workers jointly
announced Wednesday that a King County Superior Court judge has given
final approval to the deal.

“This lawsuit was filed years ago and the allegations are not
representative of the company we are today,” Wal-Mart spokeswoman Daphne
Moore said in a news release. “Our policy is to pay associates for every
hour worked and to make rest and meal breaks available.”

Wal-Mart announced in December it would pay as much as $640 million to
settle 63 lawsuits across the country over wage and hour violations. Each
settlement had to be approved by courts. Only cases in California and
Pennsylvania went to trial, and those verdicts are on appeal, said Beth
Terrell, a Seattle lawyer for the Washington plaintiffs.

In Washington, the plaintiffs’ lawyers will receive $10.5 million to cover
eight years of legal fees. Three workers who brought the lawsuit will
receive $10,000 each, and other workers will get between $50 and $950,
depending on how long they worked for Wal-Mart and how much detail they
can provide about the violations they suffered.

The class members must file their claims by Aug. 19.

The settlement also requires Wal-Mart to continue steps it has taken to
prevent wage and hour violations at its 50 stores and Sam’s Clubs in
Washington, Terrell said.

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Seeya at Farmers' Market, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown