Wal-Mart, America's Most Sued Corporation

Wal-Mart has become the most sued corporation in America. And part of the strategy to change this isn't necessarily better labor or business practices. A large part of Wal-Mart's antilawsuit strategy is to contribute heavily to GOP candidates to change class action lawsuits and other actions to stem these legal and labor actions. In Maryland, a state legislator passed bill mandating that at least 8% of the corporate payrolls of large corporations be paid to health insurance costs, was vetoed by the Republican Governor after a lobby effort. In 2004, Wal-Mart's PAC raised $2.4 million, 90% going to GOP candidates. George Bush himself received $30,000 in 2004. After a meeting in the 1990's with then majority leader, Trent Lott of Mississippi, in which Lott convinced the executives of Wal-Mart of the value of contributing to political campaigns to influence policy, Wal-Mart has become a big time political player. And the Chamber Of Commerce, another heavily proGOP business lobby organization has received another $1 million from Wal-Mart.

A corporation can escape many lawsuits by good business practices. By being serious against sex discrimination and other practices. Or it can contribute heavily to candidates for office and weaken legal standards. For some big corporations, it is simply dollars and cents.