News Summary
Walmart has agreed to pay $5.6 million to settle allegations of overcharging customers in four California counties. The lawsuit claimed the company misrepresented product weights on various items, violating California’s False Advertising and Unfair Competition laws. As part of the settlement, Walmart will strengthen oversight to ensure pricing accuracy in its California stores. Santa Clara County will receive approximately $1.375 million from the settlement, emphasizing the importance of fair business practices and consumer protection.
California – Walmart has agreed to pay $5.6 million to settle a consumer protection lawsuit that accused the retail giant of overcharging customers in four counties across California. The lawsuit, initiated by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office along with legal action from San Diego, San Bernardino, and Sonoma counties, sought to address allegations that Walmart sold products which contained less weight than what was indicated on their labels. The products in question included various items such as produce, baked goods, and other prepared food products.
The civil complaint filed against Walmart claimed violations of California’s False Advertising and Unfair Competition laws, which obligate retailers to ensure their consumers pay the lowest advertised prices at checkout. As part of the settlement, Walmart will allocate $5.5 million toward civil penalties, while an additional $139,908.92 will help cover investigation expenses related to the lawsuit. Santa Clara County is set to receive approximately $1.375 million from the settlement, which will be deposited into the district attorney’s Consumer Protection fund.
The agreement requires Walmart to enforce stricter oversight measures within its California stores concerning weight and pricing accuracy. Walmart operates 10 stores in Santa Clara County and a total of 280 stores throughout California. This settlement comes amidst a backdrop of previous legal challenges faced by the company regarding pricing errors. In 2012, Walmart settled a similar lawsuit for $2.1 million involving allegations of pricing inaccuracies.
Walmart’s history of legal issues related to pricing goes back even further, with a prior 2008 judgment necessitating corrections to in-store pricing errors. Just recently in 2025, the company contended with boycotts initiated by the advocacy group People’s Union USA, which protested against its alleged unfair practices associated with small businesses and employee compensation. These boycotts targeted shopping both in-store and online, encompassing affiliated brands such as Sam’s Club and the company’s private label products, including Great Value and Equate.
The investigation into Walmart’s pricing practices drew support from various entities including the Santa Clara County’s Weights and Measures Division, the Department of Environmental Health, and the Division of Agriculture. These agencies collaborated to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws aimed at safeguarding shoppers against inaccuracy in product weights and pricing.
Consumers in California are encouraged to report any concerns regarding product weights and pricing discrepancies. Reports can be made to the Weights and Measures Division through an online form, email, or by telephone, ensuring that any future violations can be swiftly addressed.
This settlement underscores the commitment of local authorities to uphold fair business practices and protect consumer interests, reinforcing the expectation that retailers must follow the law by providing accurate pricing information at checkout.
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