Retail giant to pay $5.6 million in penalties and costs after multi-county investigation into false advertising and pricing practices at California stores.
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Retail giant to pay $5.6 million in penalties and costs after multi-county investigation into false advertising and pricing practices at California stores.
Walmart will pay more than $5.6 million to settle allegations that it engaged in false advertising and unfair competition at its California stores, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson announced Monday.
The settlement stems from a civil complaint filed in San Diego County Superior Court following a multi-county investigation by the Consumer Protection Units of the district attorneys in San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties. Walmart, the Arkansas-based retailer, operates 280 stores across 42 California counties.
Under the stipulated judgment, Walmart will pay $5.5 million in civil penalties and $139,801.92 to cover the cost of weights and measures inspections and support future consumer protection enforcement. The judgment also includes an injunction prohibiting the retailer from engaging in false or misleading advertising and requires it to maintain regional compliance associates, in addition to store managers, who are responsible for ensuring price accuracy in California stores.
The San Bernardino County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures, inspected Walmart throughout San Bernardino County. The agency monitors retailers to ensure accurate pricing and product weights.
Walmart did not admit liability or wrongdoing and cooperated with state inspectors and prosecutors, according to the DA’s office.
Consumers who believe they have been overcharged can contact the San Bernardino County Department of Weights and Measures at (909) 387-2105 or awm@awm.sbcounty.gov.
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