Apple Offers $53 Million Settlement to Customers Accused of Water Damaging Their iOS Devices

[MacRumors]

Wired is reporting that Apple has agreed to pay $53 million to settle a class action lawsuit, which originated in 2010, that accuses them of failing to honor warranties on certain models of iPhones or iPod Touches.

The settlement, which should be filed in San Francisco federal court in the next couple of weeks, provides cash payouts to possibly hundreds of thousands of iPhone and iPod Touch customers that say Apple did not honor either their one-year standard or two-year extended warranty.

According to several lawsuits combined in San Francisco, no matter what the problem, Apple refused to honor warranties if a white indicator tape embedded in the phone near the headphone or charging portals had turned pink or red. However, the tape's maker, 3M, said humidity, and not water contact, could have caused the color to at least turn pink.

In November 2010 Apple adjusted their damage assessment procedures so that repair staff had to inspect devices even if a device's indicator tape was "triggered" and changed color. Prior to that change, Apple would rely on the indicator tape when determining a liquid damage event, which would not be covered by Apple's warranty.

The lawsuit's affected devices include the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and the first, second and third generation iPod Touch. Wired notes that potential payouts could be around $200 or less, depending on how many claims are submitted.

Apple chief litigation counsel Noreen Krall signed the settlement yesterday. Wired notes that Apple admits no wrongdoing, and the settlement will have to be approved by the judge.

Article Link: Apple Offers $53 Million Settlement to Customers Accused of Water Damaging Their iOS Devices

[komodrone]

my dog licked my phone.

[rdlink]

Those stupid moisture indicators were the worst thing ever. I rarely saw a Blackberry where they didn't turn red.

[Mlrollin91]

How is someone suppose to prove this happened in order to file a claim? I had this problem on my 1st Gen. iPod Touch, but the device is long gone and there is no paperwork showing that I was declined service. I don't even know where I could find my serial number!

[Greg.]

$53m?! Water they thinking?

[maxosx]

I'm not sure about this one.

It's as though Apple is possibly being unfairly singled out amongst all the different handset makers. While I don't have the link because it was years ago, I read once where 3M was the sole supplier of the tape for all makers.

And that's why I am uncomfortable that Apple should find itself in this position. But like everything else, I'm sure there's more to it that we have access to. So much of the "news" or "reports" is filtered, who knows?

It will be interesting to see if perhaps there are other's to follow.

[haruhiko]

I once had a Sony Ericsson phone from 2005 and the water indicator turned red after 1-2 years of use, of course without any contact with any water. This kind of "indicator" is just an excuse for manufacturers not to provide warranty service to customers.

[A Hebrew]

That iphone back looks nice compared to the current.

[cclloyd]

So do I get $53,000,000?

[Satori]

Originally Posted by cclloyd

So do I get $53,000,000?

Yes... if you are the only claimant.

Unlikely though, I suspect.

[Dwalls90]

HOW will they corroborate this information?

This will be a mess.

[Maschil]

true story... ill be looking for a pay out

[glsillygili]

I JUST SOLD MY WATER DAMAGED IPOD TOUCH 2ND GEN NO!!!!!!!!

[komodrone]

Originally Posted by Greg.

$53m?! Water they thinking?

water they want.

[iMikeT]

So how much does a claimant actually get out of that $53,000,000.... $10?

[mrbrown]

I had an HP laptop that used these stupid water indicators. The receptacle for the AC adapter actually broke inside the machine (so you couldn't plug it in) and we sent it in for service. HP denied warranty service because the water indicator had been tripped.

I obviously never dropped it in a lake or anything, but the dorm that I lived in at the time was obnoxiously humid (so much so that water would show up on the floor on a hot day)...

[Quazimojo]

Originally Posted by iMikeT

So how much does a claimant actually get out of that $53,000,000.... $10?

Yeah i think it breaks down to $2.87 per claim.

[haruhiko]

Originally Posted by A Hebrew

That iphone back looks nice compared to the current.

The plastic curved back of the 3GS is very prone to scratches esp. the shiny Apple logo part.

[SDub90]

Originally Posted by glsillygili

I JUST SOLD MY WATER DAMAGED IPOD TOUCH 2ND GEN NO!!!!!!!!

This is for when you were denied warranty repairs because of a false trigger, not for actual water damage.

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by maxosx

I'm not sure about this one.

It's as though Apple is possibly being unfairly singled out amongst all the different handset makers. While I don't have the link because it was years ago, I read once where 3M was the sole supplier of the tape for all makers.

And that's why I am uncomfortable that Apple should find itself in this position. But like everything else, I'm sure there's more to it that we have access to. So much of the "news" or "reports" is filtered, who knows?

It will be interesting to see if perhaps there are other's to follow.

It's a class action lawsuit. Apple isn't being singled out. Apple is being sued by apple product owners.

[rdlink]

Originally Posted by cclloyd

So do I get $53,000,000?

It depends. Did you buy and try to return 265,000 iPhones?

[lifeinhd]

Meh. A little bleach does wonders for those indicators

[cclloyd]

Originally Posted by rdlink

It depends. Did you buy and try to return 265,000 iPhones?

I sold one to sprint to upgrade

[Sir Michael]

Okay Apple, how will you settle this one?

Water you thinking, Apple?

[maxosx]

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

It's a class action lawsuit. Apple isn't being singled out. Apple is being sued by apple product owners.

Yes, thanks, I raced through that one so fast I missed that aspect of it.