Walmart to pay $5.6 million to settle California lawsuit claiming it overcharged products

Walmart has agreed to pay $5.6 million in a lawsuit filed by four California counties, including Santa Clara County, which alleged the retail company overcharged customers and sold products weighing less than what was said on their labels.

The civil complaint alleged that Walmart had violated the state’s False Advertising and Unfair Competition Laws by overcharging products like baked goods and produce, according to a Friday press release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. 

The lawsuit was also filed by San Diego County, San Bernardino County and Sonoma County district attorney’s offices. 

 “When someone brings an item to the register to be scanned, the price must be right,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “They expect it. California expects it. My Office expects it — and we will apply the law to make sure of it.”

Out of the settlement, $5.5 million will go toward civil penalties, and $139,908.92 will cover the costs of investigations conducted by Weights and Measures departments in the state, prosecutors said.

 Santa Clara County will receive $1,375,000, which will go toward the county district attorney’s Consumer Protection fund, prosecutors said. 

The settlement agreement also required that Walmart have employees who will be responsible for price and weight accuracy in its California stores, prosecutors said. Walmart operates 10 stores in Santa Clara County out of 280 in total across California.

 The retail giant has been cited for similar offenses in the past.

In 2012, for example, Walmart agreed to pay $2.1 million for overcharging consumers and violating a 2008 judgment against the retail chain, which ordered it to correct pricing errors at its checkout stands.