HASTINGS, Minn. — A district court judge here said Wal-Mart is liable for about $6.5 million in back wages for employees who were denied rest breaks and meal breaks or were forced to work without full pay, a lawyer representing a class of about 56,000 plaintiffs told SN. In addition, Wal-Mart violated state labor statutes more than 2 million times — which could cost the Bentonville, Ark., retailer fines of up to $2 billion, according to Justin Perl of the Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand law firm. A jury trial to decide damages is scheduled to begin in October. Daphne Moore, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said the retailer is considering filing an appeal. She added the that company policy was to provide meal and rest breaks as required to all employees and that managers in violation of that policy are subject to discipline, including termination.
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