Price-Gouging At Walgreens Stores Leads To San Diego County Settlement

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — San Diego County will receive more than half a million dollars from a settlement linked to a price-gouging and drug product investigation involving one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains.

A coalition of prosecutors across nine California counties including San Diego County secured a $6 million settlement with Walgreens after investigators found the company violated consumer protection laws tied to pricing accuracy and product safety.

California prosecutors say a routine set of inspections exposed a troubling pattern inside Walgreens drug stores.

Prosecutors built the case on scanner inspections that showed Walgreens stores charged customers more than the lowest advertised or posted price, according to an announcement from the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office.

Investigators also documented instances where stores offered over-the-counter drugs, infant formula, and baby food for sale after their expiration dates, the D.A.'s office said.

A court ordered Walgreens to pay $5.4 million in civil penalties and an additional $600,000 to reimburse district attorney offices or investigative and legal costs.

Each of the nine counties — from Alameda to Yolo county — will receive a share of the settlement to cover local enforcement expenses.

The agreement also forces operational changes inside Walgreens stores. The company must implement a three-year compliance program that requires managers to conduct monthly inspections of shelves stocked with medications, baby food, and formula to remove expired items.

Managers must also perform weekly store walks to correct inaccurate sales tags and post signage explaining the company’s “Price Promise Guarantee,” which ensures customers pay the lowest advertised price if discrepancies arise at checkout.

The suit was led by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office and joined by district attornies in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Yolo counties.

“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. My office was pleased to work with the District Attorney Offices in this case to ensure these laws were enforced,” San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said.

During the time period covered by this settlement, Walgreens operated approximately 580 stores in California.