Wal-Mart retained a law firm to investigate its liability if a sexual discrimination suit were to be filed against them. When the firm finished, they found that there were vast differences between genders in terms of pay rates and promotions. To remedy this, the firm advised Wal-Mart to immediately create specific goals and openings for those in minority groups as well as for women.
Six years later, seven women filed one of the largest gender discrimination class action suits in history against the retailer. The claim described general discrimination in pay and promotions, just as Wal-Mart had previously been warned. Wal-Mart has denied any discrimination and believes that the suit should not be a class action, but should be tried individually for each plaintiff.