Last month San Joaquin County reaped a windfall in a settlement with Dollar Tree over the sale of expired over-the-counter medications.

And now it’s CVS’ turn to join the party with a twist – the sale of expired baby formula and baby food.

Last week the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announced that the county had previously signed on to a civil case against CVS Pharmacy, Longs Drug Store of California, and Garfield Beach CVS that was adjudicated in Santa Cruz County. News broke this week that a settlement was reached in conjunction with the DA’s office of Contra Costa, Fresno, Marin, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solono, and Yolo Counties.

Per that settlement, and without admitting or denying liability, CVS has agreed “to be bound by a court order which prohibits additional violations of California law relating to the sale or offer for sale of other-the-counter drugs or infant formula and baby food past their “use by” date.

Per the judgement, CVS was ordered to pay $6.5 million in penalties and investigative costs as well as additional $1 million in restitution that will be contributed to multiple charitable organizations that serve a wide part of California. As part of that agreement, a direct donation of $125,000 will go to the Emergency Food Bank in Stockton to help benefit San Joaquin County residents that may have been impacted by the case.

The size of the case against CVS was significantly larger than the one announced last month involving Dollar Tree and centering on the sale of expired over-the-counter medication. In that case only three counties were seeking to hold the company accountable – San Joaquin County, Yolo County, and San Bernardino County – although the $2.9 million settlement in that case likely resulted in a larger piece for San Joaquin County.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.