Herbal Store Owners to Reimburse Customers

VISTA

A couple who ran an herbal store have agreed to pay $167,000 in fines and reimbursements for improperly acting as physicians and mixing over-the-counter drugs into remedies they sold as herbal, authorities said Monday.

Thomas and Linda Hardy reached a settlement with the San Diego County district attorney’s office over allegations of false advertising and unfair competition. Under the agreement, the Hardys will pay back 69 of their former customers who purchased the herbal compounds a total of $35,601. The Hardys also must pay penalties and costs of $166,774.