Contingencies |
3 Months Ended |
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Apr. 29, 2023 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Contingencies | Contingencies We are defendants in legal proceedings including class, collective, representative and large cases as well as individual claims in arbitration. We will vigorously defend ourselves in these matters. We do not believe that any of these matters will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on our business, financial condition, or liquidity. We cannot give assurance, however, that one or more of these matters will not have a material effect on our results of operations for the quarter or year in which they are reserved or resolved.
We assess our legal proceedings monthly and reserves are established if a loss is probable and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. For matters that have settled, we reserve the estimated settlement amount. Many, if not substantially all, of our legal proceedings are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and the measurement of any loss can be complex and subject to judgment. With respect to the matters noted below where we have determined that a loss is reasonably possible but not probable, we are unable to reasonably estimate the amount or range of the possible loss at this time due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding legal proceedings. Our assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause us to change those estimates and assumptions. Management’s assessment of legal proceedings could change because of future determinations or the discovery of facts which are not presently known. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these proceedings may be substantially higher or lower than currently estimated.
Active Matters
DC 202-related Matters
On February 11, 2022, the FDA issued Form 483 observations primarily regarding rodent infestation at Family Dollar’s West Memphis, Arkansas distribution center (“DC 202”) and the related sale and distribution of adulterated product, as well as other processes and procedures that require remediation. In connection therewith, we initiated a retail-level product recall of FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture-regulated products stored and shipped from DC 202 from January 1, 2021 through February 18, 2022 (the “Recall”), temporarily closed DC 202 for extensive cleaning, temporarily closed the affected stores to permit the removal and destruction of inventory subject to the Recall, ceased sales of relevant inventory subject to the Recall, ceased the direct shipment of FDA-regulated products from DC 202, and initiated corrective actions. In June 2022, we stopped shipping to stores from DC 202 and have since disposed of all of the subject inventory that was in the facility.
Since February 22, 2022, Family Dollar has been named in 14 putative class action complaints primarily related to issues associated with DC 202 described above. The lawsuits are proceeding in federal court in Tennessee using the federal court’s multi-district litigation (“MDL”) process. An amended consolidated complaint seeking class action status was filed October 17, 2022 alleging violations of the Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Missouri consumer protection laws, breach of warranty, negligence, misrepresentation, deception and unjust enrichment related to the sale of products that may be contaminated by virtue of rodent infestation and other unsanitary conditions at DC 202. Plaintiffs seek damages, attorney fees and costs, punitive damages and the replacement of, or refund of, money paid to purchase the relevant products, and any other legal relief available for their claims (in each case in unspecified amounts), including equitable and injunctive relief. As a result of a mediation held in April 2023, the parties have reached a tentative settlement in principle which if finalized will then be subject to court approval.
On March 1, 2022, a federal grand jury subpoena was issued to us by the Eastern District of Arkansas requesting the production of information, documents and records pertaining to pests, sanitation and compliance with law regarding certain of our procedures and products. In connection with this matter, we have been investigating the condition of FDA-regulated product shipped from DC 202. We are cooperating fully with the U.S. Department of Justice investigation, including having produced documents and provided additional information. We are currently engaged in discussions with the government in an effort to reach a negotiated resolution. Due to the inherent uncertainties associated with this matter, no assurance can be given as to the timing or outcome of this matter, which could include penalties and company undertakings.
On April 28, 2022, the State of Arkansas filed a complaint in state court alleging violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, gross negligence and negligence, strict liability in tort, unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy related to the sale of products that may have been contaminated by virtue of rodent infestation and other unsanitary conditions at DC 202. The State of Arkansas is seeking injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement, damages, civil penalties, punitive damages and suspension or revocation of our authorization to do business in Arkansas. The parties are discussing a potential resolution of this action.
Based on the developments discussed above, we have determined that there is a probable risk of liability for settlement amounts, costs, and potential penalties and have accrued $30.0 million for DC 202-related matters. We are currently unable to estimate the amount of additional incremental loss, if any, which may result when the matters are finally resolved. Based on the information available to date, we do not believe the resolution of the DOJ investigation, the State of Arkansas complaint, or settlement of any pending or potential civil litigation related to DC 202 will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or liquidity.
Talc Product Matters
Six personal injury lawsuits are pending in state court in Illinois, New York, Texas, and New Jersey against Dollar Tree, Family Dollar or both alleging that certain talc products that we sold caused cancer. The plaintiffs seek compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages, damages for loss of consortium, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Although we have been able to resolve previous talc lawsuits against us without material loss, given the inherent uncertainties of litigation there can be no assurances regarding the outcome of pending or future cases. Future costs to litigate these cases are not known but may be material, and it is uncertain whether our costs will be covered by insurance. In addition, although we have indemnification rights against our vendors in several of these cases, it is uncertain whether the vendors will have the financial ability to fulfill their obligations to us.
Acetaminophen Matters
Since August 2022, nine personal injury cases have been filed in federal court against Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, or both, on behalf of minors alleging that their mothers took acetaminophen while pregnant, that the acetaminophen interfered with fetal development such that plaintiffs were born with autism and/or ADHD, and that we knew or should have known of the danger, had a duty to warn and failed to include appropriate warnings on the product labels. The plaintiffs seek compensatory, punitive and/or exemplary damages, restitution and disgorgement, economic damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs. These cases, which originated in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky and Texas, along with other cases against many other defendants, have been consolidated in multi-district court litigation in the Southern District of New York.
Resolved Matters
On November 9, 2022 we received an FDA Warning Letter (“Warning Letter”) with respect to DC 202 that generally identified the same conditions and issues as those described in the Form 483 observations described above or were otherwise observed during the FDA’s inspection. The Warning Letter also acknowledged certain remedial actions we had taken in response to the Form 483 observations. By correspondence dated April 20, 2023, the FDA informed us the inspection is closed. We do not expect any further FDA regulatory enforcement action on this matter.
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