In a closely watched case, the Supreme Court decided in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, No. 10-277 (U.S. June 20, 2011), that a gender discrimination lawsuit brought by three named plaintiffs on behalf of 1.5 million current and former Wal-Mart employees could not proceed as a class action. Apart from the noteworthy result of preventing the largest employment discrimination lawsuit in United States history from going forward, the case is important for the effects it will have on a broad range of class actions and employment discrimination suits. The Wal-Mart decision may make it more difficult for many types of class-based suits to proceed.

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