Wal-Mart is defending itself in the largest civil rights lawsuit ever. A class-action on behalf of approximately one and a half mil- lion women nationwide accuses Wal-Mart of sex discrimination in its employment prac- tices. Find out about Dukes v. Wal-Mart and compare and contrast it to the class action brought by eight women brokers against Morgan Stanley.
The suit against the Wall Street firm was settled in April 2007 when Morgan Stanley agreed to pay $46 million.
What evidence do these cases give that there is still a glass ceiling in the United States? What are their implications for smashing it?
J. L. Josephs worked as a service technician for Pacific Bell, visiting customers' homes to provide assistance. When Pacific Bell discovered that Josephs had a criminal record ("not guilty of murder by reason of insanity"), he was terminated. Josephs sued, claim- ing discrimination in violation of the ADA. What will he have to prove to win? How should Pacific Bell defend itself? See Josephs v. Pacific Bell, 2006 U.S.App.Lex. 8695 (9thth Cir.).