JURIST - Paper Chase: Wal-Mart ordered to pay attorney fees in Pennsylvania class action

[JURIST] A Philadelphia judge ruled that Wednesday that Wal-mart Inc. [corporate website; JURIST news archive] must pay attorney fees and other costs for a class of Wal-Mart employees that had brought suit against the retail giant for denying them payment for work done during rest breaks. Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas [official website] Judge Mark I. Bernstein awarded the employees $46.7 million in costs. Wal-Mart has said it will appeal the decision.

The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas ruled in favor of the Pennsylvania Wal-mart workers [JURIST report] last month, awarding the employees an additional $62.3 million under a state law which demands that pay not be withheld for over 30 days. Last year, the class won a $78.47 million verdict [JURIST report] against Wal-Mart that awarded damages for work during rest breaks and off-the-clock labor. In holding for the plaintiffs, the judge said that the fringe benefits and wage supplements of all employees, whether top executives or hourly workers, are protected under the law. With Wednesday's ruling, Wal-Mart has been ordered to pay the Pennsylvania class $187.6 million total. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

For a one-stop snapshot of the latest legal news that matters, with breaking documents, new legal videos, live law-related webcasts, commentary by expert law professors and more - all updated through the day in real time, with no ads and no registration barriers - visit JURIST's homepage and check back often...