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Update:
- Apple has agreed to pay $50 million to resolve claims it knowingly sold MacBook laptops containing defective “butterfly” keyboards.
- Eligible class members who had to purchase multiple replacement keyboards on account of the defect will receive $300 under the proposed class action settlement.
- Class members who had to purchase one replacement keyboard will be eligible to receive $100 while individuals who only had to replace key caps can receive $50 from the proposed settlement.
- Apple MacBook buyers claimed in a 2018 class action lawsuit that Apple sold MacBooks with defective butterfly keyboards which were prone to failing and cost between $400 to $700 to fix.
(March 22, 2021)
Consumers cleared another hurdle in a class action lawsuit over the allegedly defective Apple butterfly keyboard when a California judge certified a proposed Class.
In a redacted order made public last week, US District Judge Edward Davila certified a class of consumers in seven states, including California, New York, Michigan, Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, and Washington, who bought certain MacBook with butterfly keyboards between 2015 and 2019, depending on the type of laptop.
Judge Davila rejected a number of arguments made by the tech giant in opposition to Class certification.
“Plaintiffs cite a number of documents in support of their argument that Apple knew the key element of the butterfly keyboard, specifically the low-travel design, was defective throughout the class period and knew that the new designs were not solving customers problems,” noted the order, pointing out a specific email written by an Apple executive allegedly stating “[n]o matter how much lipstick you try to put on this pig (the butterfly [keyboard]) . . . it’s still ugly.”
Indeed, Apple has faced a number of setbacks in litigation over the butterfly keyboard. In 2019, Apple argued that it addressed issues through its Keyboard Service Program by offering a repair or refund; however, the judge rejected this bid by the company to dodge the class action, finding that the plaintiffs’ claims for injury and breach of warranty were not addressed by the program.
Apple introduced the butterfly keyboard in certain MacBook laptops in 2015. The design was intended to make the devices slimmer and more efficient, but Apple was inundated with complaints about the butterfly keyboard. Users claimed that the keyboards malfunctioned when even small amounts of dust collected around the keys, reports The Verge. The results were “sticky” keys that failed to respond or over responded when used.
The company stopped using the butterfly keyboard design in 2020, according to The Verge, but still faces claims it knowingly put defective laptops on the market, despite the design flaws.
Neither Apple nor the plaintiffs have announced their next steps in the multi-year litigation. Settlement and trial, as well as continued bids for dismissal of the class action, are all still on the table in the butterfly laptop lawsuit.
Have you experienced problems with the Apple butterfly keyboard? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
Plaintiffs and the proposed Class are represented by Daniel C. Girard, Jordan Elias, Angelica M. Ornelas and Simon S. Grille of Girard Gibbs LLP and Benjamin F. Johns, Steven A. Schwartz, Beena M. McDonald and Andrew W. Ferich of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP.
The Apple MacBook Keyboard Class Action Lawsuit is In re: Macbook Keyboard Litigation, Case No. 5:18-cv-02813, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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34 thoughts onApple class action over defective ‘butterfly’ keyboards settled for $50M
My son apple Ipad was broken by son because of the keybourds getting stuck he is disabled an he really needs his electronics. My apple phone broke an I have never been able to get in touch with anyone at apple to replace it an it’s been 2 yrs now an they continued to charge me months after requesting a new phone .
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