Joan Fife Discusses Wal-Mart Ruling with the Daily Journal

Winston & Strawn partner Joan Fife was quoted in the September 25, 2012 Daily Journal article titled “Wal-Mart Case Alive, Just Barely.” The article discusses the 11-year-old gender discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart. On September 21, 2012, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer shut down arguments from Wal-Mart that the 2011 Supreme Court decision denying class certification to over one million women meant that all further complaints should be resolved through individual trials. Though this was good news for plaintiffs, many in the legal industry feel the case still faces many obstacles as they prepare to file for class certification.

“{Plantiffs} had a roadmap for what they need to be able to show at class certification. Whether they can show it is still an open question,” said Ms. Fife.

Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification is due in January.

Joan Fife is the managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office and the head of the labor and employment group. She represents employers throughout the country in class action employment litigation.