There was a legal victory in New Jersey Thursday for some employees of the retailer Wal-Mart.

The employees have been given the go-ahead as a group to take their employer to court. The court ruling revives the workers? lawsuit, which had been denied class-action status by a trial judge and an appellate panel.

The lawsuit claims the nation?s largest retailer denied workers in New Jersey meal and rest breaks. The suit also claims the employees were forced to work off the clock.

The class-action suit now includes 80,000 current and former Wal-Mart employees.

In response to the ruling, a Wal-Mart spokesman said, ?We are disappointed with the decision and we are currently studying the opinion.?