Stringer v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Opinion of the

Court by Justice KELLER.

I. INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In June and July, 1995, Appellants, who were employees of a Monticello, Kentucky Wal-Mart, Inc. (‘Wal-Mart”) store, were terminated for “unauthorized removal of company property” and “violation of company policy” — specifically, for eating “claims candy,” i.e., candy from open or torn bags removed from the store’s shelves that had been taken to the store’s “claims area” to be processed by a claims clerk and then either discarded or returned. Appellants filed suit against Wal-Mart and their supervisor, Appellee…