We have recently learned that lawyers NOT associated with this case have been contacting women and offering to represent them in this case.  They are offering to assist women in submitting "paperwork" and are sending them retainer agreements to sign in which the class member agrees to pay the law firm for their services.  These lawyers do NOT work on the case and have not been approved by the Court to act on behalf of the class.

·        The only law firms that have worked on this case and have been approved by the court to serve as class counsel are:

o       The Impact Fund

o       Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC

o       Davis, Cowell & Bowe, LLP

o       Equal Rights Advocates

o       The Tinkler Law Firm

o       The Bennett Firm

o       Public Justice Center

·        The class action covers two kinds of gender discrimination claims arising since 1999: 1) discrimination in pay for any retail store position; and 2)  failure to promote into salaried management positions (management trainee and above).  Claims for failure to promote into department head positions are not covered. 

·        Women do not need to have their own lawyer to participate in this case. 

·        The lawyers listed above are known as "Class Counsel" and will represent your interests in this case.  You will not have to pay them directly.  If Class Counsel is successful in the class action, they will ask the court to have Wal-Mart pay their fees or award a percentage of the entire class fund.

·        At this time, there is NO paperwork to be filled out in this case. 

·        You have the right to hire your own separate lawyer to represent you in this case but you may be responsible for paying them yourself.  If you have claims against Wal-Mart other than discrimination in pay and promotion, you may want to hire your own lawyer to file a separate lawsuit.  Those claims cannot be tried as part of the class action.

·        If you have any questions about this alert or have already signed an agreement with a law firm that is not listed above, you may contact Tony Dang at 510-845-3473 extension 308.