Wal-Mart Appeal in Class-Action Suit to Be Heard

The massive gender-discrimination suit against Wal-Mart (WMT Quote) may lose its class-action status.

An appeals court on Friday agreed to hear a challenge to a lower-court decision made in June. U.S. District Court Judge Martin Jenkins at that time certified a class of 1.6 million current and former Wal-Mart workers.

The lead plaintiffs in the case have charged that Wal-Mart systematically discriminated against female employees and managers. Wal-Mart has denied the accusation and has challenged the class certification. ...