Hughes Markets Inc. has agreed to a...

Hughes Markets Inc. has agreed to a $71,000 settlement with the county district attorney’s office in an effort to resolve a civil lawsuit alleging that it engaged in unfair business practices. The suit, filed by the district attorney’s Consumer Protection division, stemmed from a 1986-87 Hughes’ advertising campaign in which the supermarket chain claimed to have the lowest everyday prices among 500 items customers bought most. Prosecutors said although Hughes attempted in good faith to justify its conclusions, its method of compiling the price comparison information was flawed. “If they were comparing a brand of soda, they would count each flavor as a separate item. It really wasn’t 500 separate items,” said Al Albergate, district attorney spokesman. Hughes admitted no guilt and assumed no liability in the settlement, in which it agreed to pay $50,000 in civil penalties and $21,000 in attorney’s fees.