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Rat-Plagued Warehouse Winds Down as Family Dollar Faces Lawsuits

The rodent infestation raised questions about labor conditions at deep-discount retailers

An employee documented rats and mice while working at the Family Dollar distribution center in West Memphis. 

An employee documented rats and mice while working at the Family Dollar distribution center in West Memphis. 

Photographer: Houston Cofield/Bloomberg

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Six months after a Family Dollar distribution center in West Memphis, Arkansas, was fumigated and more than 1,000 rodent carcasses were removed, the rats are back.

David Hernandez spotted three of the animals before 9 a.m. one recent morning. Davisha Silas found some dead rats wrapped up in rugs. Randy Washington said she often finds rodent droppings.