State lawsuit against Family Dollar over warehouse rat infestation will move forward

The lawsuit between the state of Arkansas and Family Dollar over the infestation of rats in a warehouse will move forward in court.Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a statement yesterday saying that the Pulaski County Circuit judge denied the motion to dismiss filed by attorneys representing Family Dollar and the store’s parent company, Dollar Tree.

The Attorney General’s office first filed suit in April of 2022, claiming the retailer violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act in connection with a number of cases of infestation of rats at a company warehouse in West Memphis where food items are stored. During the period of 2020 and 2022, 3,400 rodents were removed after state and federal inspectors intervened.

“I applaud the court’s decision to permit this case to proceed. Family Dollar knew about the prevalent rodent infestation in its West Memphis distribution center and failed to warn Arkansas consumers that the goods they were purchasing had been exposed to thousands of rodents. I will continue to vigorously pursue this matter to hold Family Dollar accountable for these unconscionable acts,” Griffin said.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas accepted a guilty plea from Family Dollar in a federal criminal case related to rat infestation.

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