Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/09/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney Matt Cheever- (707) 565-3161

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

TSA STORES, INC. PAYS $509,000 IN CIVIL PENALTIES TO SETTLE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACTION BROUGHT BY CALIFORNIA PROSECUTORS

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan R. Passalacqua announced that Sonoma County received $66,540.00 in civil penalties from the settlement of a consumer protection action brought by the California Attorney General and San Diego County District Attorney against TSA Stores, Inc., which operates The Sports Authority and Sport Mart stores in California.

The defendant was charged in a civil lawsuit in San Diego County Superior Court with unfair competition due to price scanner overcharges at stores throughout the State. The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the case. In 1999, the Sonoma County District Attorney obtained a judgment and permanent injunction against Sport Mart for similar violations.

Pursuant to the stipulated judgment, the defendant paid a total of $509,000.00 in civil penalties and $31,688.00 in investigative costs. Sonoma County received $66,540.00 in civil penalties and $7,602.00 in costs. The judgment also imposed a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendant from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

"The result in this case shows what can happen when prosecutors throughout the state combine efforts to protect consumers," said District Attorney Passalacqua.