Minnesota judge approves Wal-Mart settlement

Hastings, Minn. A judge in Minnesota has given final approval to a settlement of a wages-and-hours lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores that could be worth up to $54.25 million.

A joint news release from Wal-Mart and the plaintiffs' attorneys on Thursday said the settlement concludes seven years of litigation over Wal-Mart's employment practices in Minnesota.

About 100,000 people who worked for Wal-Mart in Minnesota from Sept. 11, 1998 until Nov. 14, 2008, are eligible for a share of the settlement.

Dakota County District Judge Robert King Jr., filed the final approval Monday. He ruled last summer that Wal-Mart cut workers' break times and failed to prevent employees from working off the clock.

Wal-Mart has faced dozens of similar lawsuits across the country.