The latest news in the iPhone 4G saga is the Apple/AT and T class action lawsuit. After they sold 1.7 million iPhone 4Gs in just 3 days, consumer complaints about the iPhone “Death Grip” spread like wildfire. After getting Apple’s latest iPhone, reception problems traced to a faulty iPhone antenna design is apparently too much to bear for some. Disgruntled iPhone 4G users have teamed up with trolling lawyers to file four class action lawsuits against Apple and wireless provider AT and T in Delaware and California.
Source for this article: Apple/AT and T iPhone class action suit triggers stampede of lawyers by Personal Money Store
The death grip saga of the iPhone
The Apple iPhone 4G has made for many excessive consumer lust than any product in memory. Sadly, the high expectations people have for Apple products is backfiring. As outlined by PC World, soon following the iPhone 4G began shipping to customers in late June, the legend of the iPhone 4 “death grip” was born. Complaints started on the Internet saying that holding the phone with fingers covering the three black lines on the phone’s edge and the bottom left corner caused its reception to go bad.
iPhone covers too little too late for plaintiffs
In response to the iPhone 4 death grip furor, Apple explained that “gripping any phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance." Placing an iPhone cover or “bumper” on the iPhone 4 apparently eliminates death grip issues. Apple is prepping a software update that will stop these problems. But the iPhone cover fix isn't good enough for a few disappointed iPhone 4 users and several opportunistic legal eagles eager to angle for the potentially lucrative angst of 1.7 million iPhoniphiles and counting.
Lawyers want Apple and AT and T money
All the Apple/AT and T class action lawsuits are seeking punitive damages and an injunction against the continued manufacture and sale of the phones until the problem is fixed. Macworld reports that of nine charges leveled in a case filed in Delaware against Apple and AT and T, seven target AT and T and all nine apply to Apple: general negligence; defect in design, manufacture, and assembly; breach of express warranty; breach of implied warranty for merchantability; breach of implied warranty of fitness for a specific purpose; deceptive trade practices; intentional misrepresentation; negligent misrepresentation; and fraud by concealment.
Legal satisfaction wanted by iPhone users
In one more Apple/AT and T class action lawsuit filed in California, it was reported by Reuters the deeply hurt plaintiffs have no other choice because Apple and AT and T failed to provide customer support and, even worse, customers have been left with only three remedies: “hold their phones in an awkward and unnatural manner,” pay a 10 percent restocking fee and return their phones, or pay $ 29.95 to buy the iPhone cover that is said to fix the reception problem.
Law firms want Apple/AT and T class action lawsuits
Apple and AT and T both declined to comment on the iPhone 4 lawsuits Thursday. Now that people know it is possible, expect more lawsuits. For instance, Gawker posted on a Web site for law firm Kershaw, Cutter and Ratinoff, that they are looking for people who are having iPhone 4 reception troubles in hopes of getting their fair share of this potential legal bonanza.
Citations:
PC World
pcmag.com/article2/,2817,2365940,00.asp
Macworld
macworld.com/article/152457/2010/07/gavel_iphone4.html
Reuters
reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6603R620100701
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