The Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ruled. That workers at Walmart and Sam's Club stores in Pennsylvania who worked off the clock and when they were supposed to be on break, or who were forced to skip their breaks, will receive $151 million in unpaid wages and damages, The case affects nearly 187,000 people employed by WalMart Stores Inc. from March 1998 through April 2006.

"This demonstrates that this type of shortchanging of workers at a mammoth employer should not be tolerated and that the justice system should provide some form of relief for low-wage workers, particularly through class actions," said the workers' lawyer.

In 2002, Donovan filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court on behalf of Michelle Braun, a former employee, and others alleging that the company forced employees to work through meal periods, during breaks, and while off the clock.

In 2006, a Philadelphia jury found that the company had properly handled the meal breaks but The Common Pleas Court Judge awarded $151 million in wages and damages, plus $45 million in attorney fees.

In its appeal to Superior Court and then to the state Supreme Court, WalMart argued it was unfairly subjected to a "trial by formula" instead of having each of the 187,000 employees testify individually. Donovan said Monday that although the employees did not testify individually, it was not a "trial by formula" because individual pay records were analyzed and summarized.