Wal-Mart to Seek Review of Pharmacists’ Case

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it plans to ask a federal court to review a U.S. District Court judge’s ruling that it is liable for unspecified damages for withholding overtime pay from its pharmacists. In a summary judgment issued in a Denver court last week, Judge Zita Weinshienk ruled that Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart violated federal labor laws by classifying its pharmacists as salaried, rather than hourly, workers. The workers, in two class-action suits covering 1,100 current and former employees, alleged the retailer also cut base hours and docked the pay of some pharmacists when business was slow. Wal-Mart spokesman Les Copeland said the company will “aggressively pursue every legal option” it can. Wal-Mart shares gained $1 to close at $44.38 on the NYSE.