California fines Walmart $2.1 million

SAN DIEGO, March 22 (UPI) -- A California judge has extended a 2008 order that Walmart give customers discounts because of overcharging and ordered the company to pay a $2.1 million fine.

Court documents indicate San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Barton agreed with prosecutors, who charged Walmart Stores Inc. with failing to follow through on a 2008 judgment that involved overcharging. Barton ordered an additional $2.1 million fine be assessed on top of the previous agreement.

The 2008 judgment was an order for Walmart to give customers in California $3 off on items on which they overpaid due to scanning errors, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Thursday.

Walmart has not complied with the order, which included posting signs about the issue.

Prosecutors said items at stores were still scanning at prices that were higher than the price advertised.

Barton ordered the $3 refund deal to be continued for an additional year.

"We always strive for 100 percent pricing accuracy and will continue to make improvements to ensure we meet this goal," Walmart spokesman Steve Restivo said.