Wal-Mart spokeswoman Christi Gallagher denied those charges. "This court's ruling does not address the merits of the case," Gallagher said. "There's been no determination that Wal-Mart engaged in any of these unlawful activities."

The suit, which was filed in August 2001, represents one of at least 35 lawsuits nationwide involving pay and other workplace issues raised against Wal-Mart. If the employees prove that Wal- Mart failed to pay them for all the time they worked, they could be awarded three times the amount owed.