Wal-Mart Defends Its Dismissal of Executive

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said in a filing Thursday that a fired vice president who claimed he deserved whistle-blower protection was dishonest, repeating allegations that he helped cover up a colleague’s scheme to pocket cash from gift cards and fake invoices.

The papers, filed with the Labor Department, concern a wrongful-termination case brought by Jared Bowen, a former vice president.

Wal-Mart repeated allegations that former Vice Chairman Tom Coughlin used gift cards and bogus invoices to misappropriate hundreds of thousands of dollars to “finance his personal acquisitions.” Through his attorney, Coughlin has denied wrongdoing.

The filing said that Coughlin used subordinates to help with the alleged scheme and that many worked in the department run by Bowen.

In a March 30 complaint to the Labor Department, Bowen claimed he was fired after helping uncover alleged misspending by Coughlin. Bowen contends the dismissal violates a federal law that bars companies from punishing employees who report corporate wrongdoing.

Wal-Mart has maintained that Bowen was fired for cause.

Bowen’s attorney, Steve Kardell of Dallas, did not immediately return a phone call Thursday.