Wal-Mart Bias Case Is Cleared for Trial

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will face trial on allegations it fired a Wisconsin employee because he is black, an appeals court ruled. The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago overturned a lower court ruling, saying there is enough evidence that Wal-Mart discriminated against Roland Stalter to justify a trial. “Stalter’s claims are more than adequate to call into question the sincerity of Wal-Mart’s claim that it terminated him for theft,” wrote Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner in the decision. Wal-Mart fired Stalter from its Wausau, Wis., store in 1995, claiming he committed theft by eating a handful of tortilla chips that belonged to another employee. When he realized the chips belonged to another employee, Stalter claims, he apologized and offered to buy another bag of chips, but was told to “forget about it” by the other employee. Stalter argued that his termination was excessive in relation to the offense. He also claims that the retailer was more lenient with a white employee who committed a similar offense. Wal-Mart is disappointed with the ruling and is confident it will prevail at trial, said John Bisio, a company spokesman. “[The firing] may have seemed extreme,” Bisio said, “but it’s certainly consistent with Wal-Mart’s high standards.” Wal-Mart shares closed up $2 at $50.31 on the NYSE.