An effort by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to stop the biggest gender discrimination class action in U.S. history has picked up some prominent corporate support. Nineteen companies have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal by Wal-Mart that seeks to limit class actions by workers.
Several female employees sued Wal-Mart nine years ago, claiming that they received lower pay and fewer promotions than male employees. This past spring a federal appeals court ruled that the suit could proceed as a class action, which could potentially include as many as 1.5 million female Wal-Mart employees.
