VENTURA, California — District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Allen White has ordered CVS Pharmacy, Inc. a Rhode Island Corporation, doing business in California as CVS/pharmacy, to pay $2.4 million as part of a settlement of a civil enforcement action. The case was brought by the Ventura, Riverside and Los Angeles County District Attorneys’ Offices. The matter was brought to the attention of authorities by the State of California Division of Measurement Standards and local county Weights and Measures officials.

The settlement is the culmination of a civil action filed in Los Angeles County alleging that CVS engaged in misleading advertising by charging more at check-out than the advertised price. In addition, an investigation determined that the company failed to give cash back on gift cards under $10, as required by law. This is the second civil complaint involving misleading advertising filed against CVS in the last five years.

Pursuant to the final judgment, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will receive $675,000 in civil penalties and Ventura County Weights and Measures will receive $14,310.45 as costs of investigation. CVS was also required to pay $275,000 to the ITT Consumer Protection Trust Fund for the enforcement of consumer protection laws. CVS agreed to the settlement without admitting any liability or wrongdoing. As part of the settlement, CVS agreed to initiate and administer pricing programs to ensure that consumers are not overcharged for their purchases.