Family Dollar Class Action Alleges Company Sold Products Amid Massive Rat Infestation

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Family Dollar Warehouse Rodent Infestation Overview:

• Who: A rodent infestation at a Family Dollar warehouse has prompted consumers to file a class action against the chain after 404 stores were temporarily closed.
• Why: The rodent infestation caused conditions that placed products in unsanitary conditions, the consumers say.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in Mississippi federal court.

Family Dollar knowingly sold products potentially contaminated by a massive rat infestation at one of its warehouses, which closed more than 400 stores in six states when it came to light, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

In a class action complaint filed by four Family Dollar customers in a Mississippi federal court Feb. 24, the retail chain is accused of violating state and federal consumer laws. 

According to the plaintiffs, Family Dollar was negligent and reckless in selling products that may have been contaminated by the rodent infestation and other unsanitary conditions in stores throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee.

A massive rat infestation at a Family Dollar warehouse prompted the chain to temporarily close 404 stores and recall a range of products last week. 

On Feb. 19, the discount chain store said it had temporarily closed the stores after ​​The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was alerted to unsanitary conditions by a consumer complaint.

After an inspection of the West Memphis facility, the FDA reported that it found “live rodents; dead rodents in various states of decay; rodent feces and urine; evidence of gnawing, nesting and rodent odors throughout the facility; dead birds; and bird droppings” at the center.

The U.S. discovery of the infestation also prompted a far-reaching recall of food, dietary supplements, cosmetics and other products due to the unsanitary conditions caused by the rats.

Family Dollar Should Have Acted Sooner To Protect Customers, Plaintiffs Say

According to the plaintiffs, Family Dollar should have acted sooner to protect its customers from potentially unsanitary products that had a decreased value due to being in a warehouse with live and dead rodents. 

“The contamination associated with the Rodent Infestation poses a health risk to consumers that used or handled the Products,” they say.

The lawsuit says the company was aware of and intentionally hid the information from consumers so that its bottom line would not be hurt.

“Due to corporate greed, Family Dollar omitted [details of] the rodent infestation to deceive plaintiffs, class members and the general public into buying products to maximize its profits,” the lawsuit says.

The class action seeks to represent Family Dollar consumers from the five states who shopped at the hundreds of stores.

Rodents pose a number of health hazards for humans, especially young children, the elderly, the immunocompromised and the pregnant, the lawsuit notes. 

The lawsuit accuses Family Dollar of violating a number of the states’ consumer laws as well as breach of implied warranty, unjust enrichment and negligence. 

What do you think about Family Dollar’s delay in recalling and closing stores amid the infestation? Let us know in the comments! 

The consumers are represented by John W. Barrett, Katherine B. Riley and Sterling Aldridge of Barrett Law Group PA; Charles J. LaDuca, Alexandra C. Warren and Brendan S. Thompson of Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP; and Jerry Abdalla of Abdalla Law PLLC.

The Family Dollar Rats Class Action Lawsuit is Lacy et al. v. Family Dollar Inc., A North Carolina Corporation, Case No. 3:22-cv-00098, in the U.S. District Court of Southern District of Mississippi.

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