A lawyer for former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Vice Chairman Tom Coughlin argued Tuesday for the dismissal of a lawsuit by the world’s largest retailer, saying his client had an agreement with the company that it would not take punitive action against him after he retired.

Benton County, Ark., Circuit Judge Jay Finch is to decide in a couple of weeks whether to allow Wal-Mart to go forward with its lawsuit filed this summer against its former No. 2 executive.