Lawyers in several states are pushing for class-action lawsuits against Family Dollar after reports of a rat infestation in the company’s distribution center surfaced earlier this year. Attorneys in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee have all come forward with lawsuits seeking class-action certification.

Reports of the infestation began to surface earlier this year when a viral video showing rodents running around the warehouse began to circulate on the internet. After an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, the 22-page review painted a graphic image of the Family Dollar’s distribution center in West Memphis, Arkansas. The report detailed, "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”' were rampant through the warehouse. They add there were foul stenches in places and that droppings were “too numerous to count.”

After reviewing company records, it was detailed that the warehouse had a history of infestation and that over 2,300 rodents were discovered in 2021. The FDA’s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, Judith McKeekin, shared in a statement that "No one should be subjected to products stored in the kind of unacceptable conditions that we found in this Family Dollar distribution facility."

The infestation impacted over 400 stores spanning six different states across the south, causing them to close and issue voluntary recalls of products that may have been exposed to the rodents and then later sold. Products included human and pet food, medical devices, over-the-counter medications, and cosmetics.

Attorneys behind the lawsuits detail a very cut-and-dried argument that the company knew but did little to resolve the rodent infestation. Some cases claim that the negligent tactics disproportionately impacted poor and minority communities. Many areas that were impacted are what are known as food deserts, areas where there is limited or nonexistent access to fresh food. In these “food deserts,” it is common for Family Dollars to set up shop and provide a source of pre-packaged nutrition to consumers who are already struggling to feed their families. The pre-packaged food is often cheap and low in nutritional value.

Memphis attorney Luke Sanderson is currently pursuing a class action in his state over the rat infestation. He details with local outlet Action News 5 that “Stores like Family Dollar are supposed to be counted on in places like Memphis, in certain areas of town that are potential food deserts, where they have no other place to go to buy their food other than Family Dollar.” Sanderson adds, “We think there’s a general level of disrespect that’s been shown by Family Dollar to certain people in our community.”

In one lawsuit filed by four plaintiffs in Mississippi in late February, the plaintiffs allege that Family Dollar broke state and federal consumer laws. They accuse the bargain chain of not acting sooner to address the infestation. They go on to accuse the company of intentionally hiding information from consumers as well.

“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.

Following the certification of the class action, a notice will be shared which will allow consumers who shopped at Family Dollar to opt into the case. It will also allow impacted individuals to opt out and pursue their own claims if they wish.