The lawsuit alleged that the retail giant overcharged consumers and sold expired over-the-counter products.
Walgreens has agreed to pay $6 million in a settlement to a lawsuit filed by several district attorney’s offices across California alleging that the drug store chain overcharged customers and sold expired over-the-counter products in violation of state law, prosecutors said.
The company, which has about 580 stores across the state, also agreed to audit its stores and post a price scanner guarantee in a push to create stronger consumer protections, according to press releases from several Bay Area district attorneys offices involved in the lawsuit. The settlement was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court. “Consumers trust that they are paying the right price for all items and that they are not buying expired over-the-counter drugs,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a news release. “The law and my Office do not just trust that retailers are meeting those legal and common-sense consumer obligations. We will strictly enforce them.” The lawsuit was brought against the company by the Bay Area district attorney’s offices of Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Alameda County, and Contra Costa County, as well as those in San Diego County, San Bernardino County, Santa Cruz County, Yolo County and San Joaquin County. This lawsuit marks the second judgment in which the consumer giant was selling expired over the counter medications to California consumers and the sixth judgment in which the company was charging customers a higher amount than the lowest advertised price, prosecutors said.“Customers should have confidence that companies that sell food and formula to infants and children are doing so by being scrupulous about the safety of the products in their stores. The same goes for medications that are sold beyond their expiration dates,” Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement. “The work of my office and those of other district attorney offices in the state shows that when we work together to enforce laws, we not only ensure compliance – we’re also restoring trust and safety in our communities.” Investigators from the district attorney’s offices found that the drug store sold expired over-the-counter items including sunscreen, hand sanitizer and aspirin, prosecutors said, adding that the effectiveness of these products is sometimes reduced after their expiration date. The lawsuit further alleged that the chain sold expired infant formula and baby food products, prosecutors said. The investigation included inspecting scanners at the chain’s drug stores. As part of the settlement, the chain will implement a three-year program that includes monthly checks of shelves that carry medications, formula and baby care by store managers to remove any expired items, prosecutors said. The managers will also remove inaccurate sales tag information on a weekly basis. The price guarantee that Walgreens will post in its stores states that if a product worth more than $6 scans at a price higher than advertised, the company will provide the consumer with a $6 merchandise card, prosecutors said. If the product costs less than $6, the consumer will receive it for free. That guarantee does not apply to some products, such as alcohol.East Bay woman sentenced to prison for elder theftProsecutors added that Walgreens was cooperative in the investigation and “quickly took steps to improve its compliance with the consumer protection laws.” The settlement includes $5.4 million in civil penalties and $600,000 in investigation costs, prosecutors said. The new settlement also superseded a 2018 judgment against the corporation. “California law provides protections for consumers to ensure that the price they pay at the register is not greater than the advertised price, and to protect from being sold expired products containing drug facts,” San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said in a statement. “My office was pleased to work with the District Attorney Offices in this case to ensure these laws were enforced.”El Niño is on the way: What that means for California's weatherDear Abby: If I can't see the baby, then I want my money backSan Jose is clearing its last large homeless encampment. Not everyone wants what comes next Kurtenbach: MLB's SF Giants-Yankees Opening Night Netflix cash-grab proves nothing is sacred in modern sportsGreat America hits 50. It may not make it to 52
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