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LAFAYETTE – Wal-Mart may be the target of the largest civil rights case in history for alleged sex-discrimination. But Lucas McZeal said he probably won't stop shopping there, even if the company is found to have paid women less than men for the same work.

'This is the only place I shop. Everybody, men and women, are courteous, and I like shopping here,' McZeal said, walking back to his truck after shopping Wednesday at the Wal-Mart on Evangeline Thruway.

'But I think the women should get what they deserve. I didn't realize until I heard about it (the lawsuit). It just goes to show you don't know what goes on behind close doors.'

Wal-Mart official have denied the allegations. A federal judge in California on Tuesday approved the class-action status for a lawsuit that alleges the national retailer pays its female workers less than males for comparable jobs and bypasses women for promotions.

The ruling, which Wal-Mart attorneys have said they plan to appeal, would mean an estimated 1.6 million current and former female employees who worked for Wal-Mart since 1998 could collect monetary damages is Wal-Mart is found at fault or settles the case.

'I think it's wrong. Everybody should be equal,' said Wal-Mart shopper Mandi Gaspard.

Would her shopping habits change if the allegations were proven?

'It probably wouldn't because I shop here all the time,' she said.

Erica Broussard said news of the lawsuit did not surprise her.

'On my job, it's the same thing. That goes on everywhere,' said Broussard, who works in the food industry.

As for whether the lawsuit will affect her shopping, she responded that she is generally pleased with the service and products she gets at Wal-Mart and probably will keep shopping there.

'I'd have to think about it…,' said shopper Laurie Manecke when asked about whether her shopping habits would change if Wal-Mart was found at fault. 'I've been coming here all my life. I remember going to Wal-Mart when I was 5.'

Attorneys have not estimated how much employees would get paid if Wal-Mart loses or settles.

'This looks pretty big. 1.6 million. You multiply that by any number and that's a lot of money,' said Lafayette attorney Andre Toce, whose been involved in several local class-action cases.

Lafayette attorney Clay Burgess said the case will be the largest class-action lawsuit brought by private citizens against a corporation, comparable to the tobacco lawsuits pursued by state government in recent years.

Toce said the attorneys in the Wal-Mart case have already won the first round in the toughest battle – getting a judge to certify that the claim being raised by each woman in the case are similar enough to be tried in one class-action lawsuit, meaning each person does not have to fight Wal-Mart one-on-one.

'Class certification is a huge issue,' Toce said. 'Most lawsuits are won fought or lost on certification.'

No Louisiana residents are currently involved I the lawsuit, but any person who fits the criteria for the class could be eligible to receive any future pay-outs, according to a spokeswoman for the attorneys handling the case.

If a settlement or verdict is reached, notifications will be sent out soliciting former employees who qualify for payment