TRENTON, N.J., May 31 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court Thursday ruled that Wal-Mart employees who claim they were shortchanged on pay and rest breaks can sue as a class.
The high court overruled two lower courts that denied certification for a class-action suit.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. operates 54 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in New Jersey. The suit was brought by two former employees but, as a class action, involves 72,000 present and former workers.
The company faces similar litigation in other states, as well as suits brought by women who say they were victims of sex discrimination in pay and promotions.
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled 5-1 that the issues involved in claims that employees did not get the rest breaks guaranteed by Wal-Mart and put in unpaid time at work, were similar enough to justify treating potential plaintiffs as a class. The justices ruled that plaintiffs could use statistical findings made by academic experts who studied Wal-Mart timekeeping.
