Target Settles Lawsuit Over Calif. Waste Disposal
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Prosecutors say a California judge has ordered Target Corp. to pay $22.5 million for illegally disposing hazardous waste at stores throughout the state.
Authorities said Thursday in San Diego that Alameda Superior Court Judge Steven Brick approved the payment as part of a settlement of a civil lawsuit filed by the state, 21 county district attorneys and city attorneys in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Tim Patterson, supervising deputy state attorney general, says Target was found to have mishandled waste from 2002 until a few months after the lawsuit was filed in June 2009.
Authorities say the Minneapolis-based retailer had no special procedures for handling waste such as oven cleaners, pool chemicals and hair coloring.
Target didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
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