Last week, Walmart has agreed to pay $5.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed by four California counties—Santa Clara, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Sonoma. The lawsuit, led by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, accused the retail giant of overcharging customers and selling products, such as baked goods and produce, with weights less than what was advertised on labels. This comes as California’s continues to enforcing fair business practices and ensuring consumers get what they pay for.
The civil complaint alleged that Walmart violated California’s False Advertising and Unfair Competition Laws. According to a press release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the company engaged in practices that misled customers by charging more than the listed price at checkout or providing less product than indicated. “When someone brings an item to the register to be scanned, the price must be right,” said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. “They expect it. California expects it. My Office expects it—and we will apply the law to make sure of it.”
As part of the settlement, Walmart will allocate $5.5 million to civil penalties, with an additional $139,908.92 covering investigation costs for California’s Weights and Measures departments. Santa Clara County will receive $1,375,000, which will be directed to the county’s Consumer Protection fund to support future enforcement efforts. Additionally, Walmart is required to designate employees in its California stores to ensure pricing and weight accuracy, a measure aimed at preventing future violations.
Walmart operates 280 stores across California, including 10 in Santa Clara County alone. This isn’t the first time the retail chain has faced penalties for such practices. In 2012, Walmart paid $2.1 million for similar overcharging violations and for failing to comply with a 2008 judgment that mandated corrections to pricing errors at checkout. These recurring issues highlight the importance of vigilant oversight to protect consumers from deceptive practices.
California hopes this settlement sends a clear message to retailers: accuracy in pricing and product weight is non-negotiable. For consumers, it’s a reminder to check receipts and report discrepancies, as collective action and regulatory enforcement can lead to meaningful change. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office encourages anyone suspecting unfair business practices to contact their local consumer protection agency.
Please follow us on Facebook and X for more news, tips, and reviews. Need cord cutting tech support? Join our Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help. You can find Luke on X HERE.
