Class Action Against Wal-Mart Is Denied

An appeals court has refused to reinstate class-action status for a lawsuit that sought to represent 230,000 Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employees across Florida who allege that the company forced many of them to work without pay during breaks and after hours.

But the ruling by the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee said the class action should be denied because the employee group was too broad. That leaves the door open for another suit if the list of plaintiffs is narrowed.

Wal-Mart shares fell 18 cents to $55.32 on the New York Stock Exchange.