Wal-Mart Facing Massive Sex Discrimination Suit

An appeals court left the world's biggest retailer facing the biggest class action lawsuit in American history after ruling yesterday against Wal-Mart. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided that women who have worked at Wal-Mart stores since 2001 can sue the chain collectively over claims it paid them less than men and gave them fewer promotions, the Washington Post reports.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs, who hope the suit will reach trial before the end of the year, say the decision opens the door for up to a million women to seek damages and back pay from Wal-Mart. A lawyer for the retailer said the company strongly disagrees with the opinion of the "sharply divided" court and an appeal to the Supreme Court is being considered.
(More class-action lawsuits stories.)