Target to Pay Nearly $4 Million to Settle False Advertising Lawsuit

Target has agreed to pay nearly $4 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Northern California prosecutors that alleged the retailer charged higher prices than advertised, prosecutors said Tuesday. The lawsuit also alleges the Minneapolis-based company misrepresented the weights of products and failed to ensure that price scanners at checkout stands were accurate. Target spokesman Evan Lapiska says some of the problems stemmed from promotional signs not being removed immediately after a promotion ended. The company also agreed to increase the number and frequency of price-accuracy audits at California stores, train its employees to make sure prices are accurate, and hire an outside auditor to make sure weights are accurate in Target-branded products.