Supreme Court considers whether a sex-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart can proceed.
/ AP photo
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court hears arguments today in a major class action suit against Wal-Mart.
At issue in the largest job discrimination lawsuit ever against the nation's largest retailer is not the outcome, but whether the suit can move forward.
More than two dozen briefs have been filed by business interests on Wal-Mart's side, and civil rights, consumer and union groups on the other.
The question is crucial to the viability of discrimination claims, which become powerful vehicles to force change when they are presented together, instead of individually.
Lower courts have said the suit could go forward.
But Wal-Mart wants the high court to stop the suit. The company argues it includes too many women with too many different positions in its 3,400 stores. Wal-Mart says there is no evidence that women are poorly treated at Wal-Mart.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
