An attempt by Wal-Mart to dismiss one of the world's largest sex discrimination suits has failed Jesse Russell has more:

By Jesse Russell

The world's largest retailer had argued that because it's 3400 stores operate like independent businesses the class action sex discrimination lawsuit filed in 2004 should be dismissed. The 9th U.S. District Court disagreed and now the company will face a trial in which the suit claims that nearly 1.5 million female employees were discriminated against in pay and promotions. The company could now face billions of dollars in damages to women. Wal-Mart has insisted that if female employees truly felt discriminated against, they should file lawsuits against individual stores. The court wrote that evidence suggested "female employees nationwide were subjected to a common pattern and practice of discrimination."