HDNet's 'Dan Rather Reports' Presents a Modern Day 'David and Goliath'

Betty Dukes takes on Walmart in the largest employment discrimination suit in U.S. corporate history

Tuesday, March 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET

News provided by

Mar 03, 2011, 04:44 ET

DALLAS, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Tuesday's "Dan Rather Reports" will present a story about Betty Dukes, a 61 year old Walmart greeter from California who says she has been discriminated against on the basis of her gender.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080324/HDNETLOGO)

And Dukes is not alone. She is the lead plaintiff on a class action suit that could include millions of other women who have worked at Walmart, most as hourly wage earners. But the Supreme Court will not be deciding the merits of their discrimination case.

What's at stake is the very definition of what a "class action" can be. And that has everyone from big business, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to civil rights lawyers very invested in the outcome. But ultimately, legal theory has a very real impact on the lives of individuals like Dukes.

With the size of class action lawsuits growing larger and larger, Congress passed a law in 2005 making it harder to file class action suits and, in his 2005 State of the Union address, then-President George W. Bush said, "Justice is distorted, and our economy is held back, by irresponsible class actions..."

However, Brad Seligman, the lead attorney on Dukes' case says that Walmart's goal is clear.

"They wanna make it impossible for any large class action to be brought, for the very simple reason that a company this large, a large class action is the only thing that's gonna change them," Seligman told Rather. "But this company has over $400 billion of revenue every year. That's less than a bug bite on the rear end of an elephant. It doesn't make any difference whatsoever."

In a rare television interview, Dukes, an ordained Baptist minister tells Rather that her faith has supported her through the rough terrain of being the lead plaintiff at a company she still works for. Said Dukes, "I kind of feel like Moses at the Red Sea."

"Dan Rather Reports: Betty v. Goliath" premieres on HDNet, Tuesday, March 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET with an encore at 11:00 p.m. ET.

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including the network's Emmy Award winning HD news feature programs, "HDNet World Report," and "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries, airing as part of the "HDNet 'Round The World" series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2011.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the United Football League.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild®," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Kirsten Dunst, Ryan Gosling, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS and in Canada via Access Communications, Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

SOURCE HDNet