CVS will pay $2 million to settle a consumer protection lawsuit accusing the company of overcharging customers for sale items and engaging in misleading advertising, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Friday.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maureen Duffy-Lewis signed a final judgment this week under which CVS/pharmacy Inc. agreed to pay $1.2 million in civil penalties and $420,000 in investigative costs and contribute $300,000 to the state's Department of Measurement Standards.
The company, which did not admit liability, also agreed to pay $100,000 to the Consumer Protection Trust for the enforcement of consumer protection laws.
CVS agreed to complete all corrective action involving advertising by Oct. 30 and to initiate and administer pricing programs for a three-year period to ensure that customers are not overcharged, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The company also will implement a program that will give customers up to $2 off an item if it scans at a higher price than advertised.
The civil complaint was filed Aug. 11 in Los Angeles Superior Court by the district attorneys of Los Angeles, Riverside and Ventura.
