Walmart Class Action Lawsuit Recent November 45 Million Settlement Payments Updates, Radioactive Shrimp Claims, and Employment Violations
Walmart’s $45 million weighted groceries settlement began distributing payments in November 2025, with claimants receiving average payments around $25.97, while a new nationwide class action alleges Great Value frozen shrimp sold at Walmart was contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. Additionally, a Georgia federal court lawsuit claims Walmart violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to provide background reports to job applicants before withdrawing offers.
November 2025 Major Developments: Three Active Cases Impact Millions
Weighted Groceries Settlement Payments Now Mailing
The Court authorized distribution in August 2025, and the administrator announced payments anticipated to start by the end of September 2025, with distribution continuing into November. Customers who purchased sold-by-weight meat, poultry, pork, seafood, or bagged organic citrus between October 19, 2018 and January 19, 2024 qualified for compensation.
Payment amounts varied based on documentation:
- $10 for up to 50 purchases without receipts
- $15 for 51 to 75 purchases
- $20 for 76 to 100 purchases
- $25 for 101 or more purchases
- Up to $500 with receipts showing actual overcharges
The lawsuit alleged Walmart’s point-of-sale system artificially increased the weight of products at checkout, resulting in customers paying inflated prices for meat, poultry, pork, and seafood.
Radioactive Shrimp Lawsuit Filed in November 2025
Plaintiff Derrick Young filed a nationwide class action lawsuit alleging that Great Value frozen shrimp sold at Walmart was contaminated with Cesium-137 and was not disclosed to consumers. The recall spanned multiple Walmarts across Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia.
The FDA began investigating reports of Cesium-137 contamination in shipping containers and frozen shrimp products processed by PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian company, after U.S. Customs & Border Protection detected radioactive material at ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. Walmart immediately recalled products with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1 and 8005539-1, all with best-by dates of March 15, 2027.
FCRA Employment Background Check Lawsuit
Plaintiff Cynthia Hollingsworth claims Walmart obtained a consumer report from a consumer reporting agency and relied on it to make a decision to withdraw a job offer without first providing her with a copy of the report. Filed in October 2025, this case seeks to represent Walmart applicants who were the subject of a consumer report used by Walmart for employment purposes within the past five years and suffered an adverse employment action.
Hollingsworth demands statutory damages of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each violation, plus punitive damages. This follows a separate FCRA lawsuit certified in 2019 involving approximately 5 million class members who allegedly did not receive proper background check disclosures.
Who Can File a Walmart Class Action Claim
Weighted Groceries Settlement (Closed to New Claims)
Persons who purchased Weighted Goods and/or Bagged Citrus in-person at a Walmart retail store, supercenter, or neighborhood market in the United States or Puerto Rico from October 19, 2018 through January 19, 2024 were eligible. The June 2024 filing deadline has passed.
Radioactive Shrimp Lawsuit (Active)
Consumers who purchased Great Value frozen shrimp products affected by the August 2025 recall qualify. Young wants to represent a nationwide class and California subclass of consumers who bought allegedly contaminated Great Value frozen shrimp products for personal or household use. The case remains in early litigation stages.
FCRA Employment Lawsuit (Active)
Walmart applicants who were the subject of a consumer report used by Walmart for employment purposes within the past five years and suffered an adverse employment action by the company without being provided a copy of the report and/or a written summary of their rights under the FCRA may qualify.
What Evidence Do You Need for Walmart Claims
For Weighted Groceries (Past Deadline)
Claimants submitted either receipts showing overcharges on weighted products or attestations of purchase frequency without receipts. Payments were calculated from two tracks: no receipts versus with receipts documenting actual overcharges.
For Radioactive Shrimp Claims
Essential documentation includes:
- Receipts showing purchase of recalled Great Value shrimp
- Product lot codes (8005540-1, 8005538-1, 8005539-1)
- Best-by date of March 15, 2027
- Evidence of purchase between July 28, 2025 and August 7, 2025
- Medical records if exposure caused health issues
For FCRA Employment Claims
Required evidence includes:
- Job application documentation
- Communications from Walmart regarding background checks
- Adverse action notice from Walmart
- Timeline showing no pre-adverse action disclosure provided
- Proof you did not receive copy of consumer report before job offer withdrawal
What Compensation Can You Receive
Weighted Groceries Settlement (Payments Issued)
Average payments around $25.97 for many claimants, with amounts varying based on claim type and the number of eligible purchases. Maximum payment reached $500 with receipt documentation.
Radioactive Shrimp Lawsuit (Pending)
Young claims Walmart, Beaver Street and Southwind are guilty of unjust enrichment, negligent omission and breach of implied warranty of merchantability, demanding compensatory, statutory and punitive damages for himself and all class members. Specific amounts remain undetermined as the lawsuit proceeds.
FCRA Employment Lawsuit
Statutory damages of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each violation, plus punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. A previously certified FCRA case involving 5 million Walmart applicants remains in litigation.
Current Settlement Status November 2025
Weighted Groceries: Final Distribution Phase
The Court granted final approval on June 28, 2024, and authorized distribution in August 2025. Payments continue mailing through November 2025. The settlement website confirms the class action is closed to new claims.
Radioactive Shrimp: Early Litigation
Filed approximately two weeks ago in November 2025, the case remains in initial pleading stages. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled shrimp products so far, and Walmart is not currently facing any legal action over the recall beyond this class action lawsuit.
FCRA Employment: Discovery Phase
Filed in October 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, the case awaits class certification. Previous FCRA litigation certified a class of 5 million applicants in 2019, demonstrating potential scale.
How to Join Active Walmart Class Action Lawsuits
For Radioactive Shrimp Claims
Contact the plaintiff’s attorneys representing the case: Trenton R. Kashima of Bryson Harris Suciu & DeMay PLLC handles the Young v. Southwind Foods LLC case filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Gather purchase receipts and product information before reaching out.
For FCRA Employment Claims
The plaintiff is represented by MaryBeth V. Gibson of Gibson Consumer Law Group LLC and Jayson Watkins of Siri and Glimstad LLP. Job applicants who experienced similar violations should document their application timeline and communications.
Steps to Take Now
- Check if you purchased affected products or applied for Walmart employment
- Gather documentation (receipts, job application materials, communications)
- Contact class counsel representing the relevant lawsuit
- Submit intake forms detailing your experience
- Preserve all evidence related to your claim
Recent November Court Developments Affecting Cases
Weighted Groceries Final Payments
The settlement administrator confirmed payments started September 2025 and continue through November. Claimants who filed valid and timely claim forms are beginning to receive payments via their email inboxes. Those who haven’t received payments should contact the settlement administrator through the official website.
FDA Investigation Continues
FDA is actively investigating reports of Cesium-137 contamination and has placed PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati on an import alert to prevent future shipments until the issue is resolved. This ongoing investigation supports the radioactive shrimp lawsuit’s allegations.
Employment Background Check Pattern
The Walmart background check class action lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of current, former, and prospective employees subjected to an unauthorized background check within the past five years. The October 2025 filing adds to ongoing FCRA litigation against Walmart that previously certified 5 million class members.
What Filing Deadlines Apply
Weighted Groceries Settlement
June 5, 2024 deadline passed. No new claims accepted.
Radioactive Shrimp Lawsuit
No filing deadline set yet as the case remains in early stages. Statute of limitations typically allows 2-3 years from date of harm, but varies by state. Act quickly to preserve claims.
FCRA Employment Claims
The proposed class includes applicants affected within the past five years, suggesting a 5-year lookback period. The FCRA’s statute of limitations allows 2-5 years depending on whether violations are willful. File as soon as possible to avoid missing deadlines.
What Makes a Strong Walmart Class Action Claim
Weighted Groceries (Closed)
Strong claims included:
- Multiple purchases of weighted products during the class period
- Receipts documenting overcharges
- Purchases from stores across multiple states showing systematic issues
Radioactive Shrimp Claims
Compelling evidence includes:
- Purchase receipts matching recalled lot codes
- Medical documentation of cesium exposure
- Photos of product packaging with lot numbers
- Multiple purchases during the recall window
FCRA Employment Claims
Powerful claims demonstrate:
- Clear timeline showing no pre-adverse action disclosure
- Written confirmation of job offer followed by withdrawal
- Evidence background check influenced the decision
- Documentation that summary of FCRA rights was not provided
- Pattern affecting multiple applicants
How November Updates Change Your Rights
The weighted groceries settlement payments beginning in November 2025 mean eligible claimants should monitor their email and mail for payment notices. Those who filed claims but haven’t received payments should immediately contact the settlement administrator.
The November 2025 radioactive shrimp lawsuit filing creates a narrow window for affected consumers to join before class certification. Consumers who purchased products during the July-August 2025 recall window have fresh claims supported by FDA findings.
For employment claims, the October 2025 FCRA lawsuit filed in Georgia adds to a pattern of Walmart background check violations that previously resulted in class certification for 5 million applicants. Job seekers affected in the past five years should evaluate their eligibility immediately.
Related Walmart Pricing Litigation
A U.S. Appeals Court in Illinois found in August 2024 that a lawsuit accusing Walmart of deceptive pricing practices can proceed, with plaintiff Yoran Kahn claiming shelf prices were 10-15% lower than register prices. This separate pricing lawsuit seeks class-action status for consumers overcharged nationwide.
In June 2024, Walmart agreed to pay $1.64 million to resolve New Jersey allegations of unlawful pricing practices at retail stores statewide, demonstrating regulatory scrutiny beyond class action litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the recent November 2025 updates in Walmart class action lawsuits?
The $45 million weighted groceries settlement began mailing payments in November 2025, with claimants receiving average payments around $25.97. A new nationwide lawsuit filed in November alleges Great Value frozen shrimp contained radioactive Cesium-137. An October 2025 Georgia lawsuit claims Walmart violated FCRA by not providing background reports before withdrawing job offers.
Can I still file a claim for the Walmart weighted groceries settlement?
No. The class action is closed to new claims, with the June 2024 filing deadline having passed and payments now distributing to approved claimants.
Who qualifies for the radioactive shrimp lawsuit against Walmart?
Consumers who bought allegedly contaminated Great Value frozen shrimp products for personal or household use, particularly those purchased from Walmart stores in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia during the July-August 2025 recall window.
How much compensation can I receive from Walmart class actions?
Weighted groceries settlement payments averaged $25.97 with a maximum of $500. FCRA employment claims seek statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 per violation plus punitive damages. Radioactive shrimp compensation amounts remain undetermined.
What evidence do I need for an FCRA employment claim against Walmart?
You need job application documentation, communications regarding background checks, adverse action notice from Walmart, timeline showing no pre-adverse action disclosure, and proof you did not receive a copy of the consumer report before offer withdrawal. The lawsuit claims Walmart obtained reports and withdrew offers without providing required FCRA disclosures.
What is the deadline to file a Walmart FCRA employment claim?
The proposed class covers applicants affected within the past five years. The FCRA statute of limitations typically allows 2-5 years from the violation date. File as soon as possible since the October 2025 lawsuit filing starts the clock on class certification.
How do I know if the shrimp I bought was contaminated?
Check if your product has lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1 or 8005539-1, all with best-by dates of March 15, 2027. The recall affected Great Value frozen shrimp sold between July 28, 2025 and August 7, 2025 in 13 states.
Legal Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you have been affected by the issues in any Walmart class action lawsuit, consult with a qualified attorney to discuss your specific situation and legal options. Settlement amounts, deadlines, and eligibility requirements are subject to court approval and may change.
Related Resources:
- Can You Sue a Bank for Identity Theft? Legal Standards & Recent Rulings
- Class Action Claim Forms & Settlement Updates
- Employment Law Violations & Worker Rights
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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