Intel class action over defective microprocessors dismissed

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Update:

• A federal judge in Oregon has thrown out a lawsuit alleging Intel Corp. knowingly sold defective microprocessors and delayed disclosing the issue to the public. 
• On July 7, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon filed a ruling dismissing multidistrict allegations against Intel Corp. regarding alleged security flaws in its microprocessors.
• Consumers who filed a class action lawsuit against Intel in 2018 claimed the company knew for decades about the defects, which allegedly cause security issues, but failed to fix them or inform the public. 
• The dismissal comes after the litigation was significantly trimmed in January.
• Simon said he found that the remaining allegations were either too “speculative” to move forward or overlapped with other, already dismissed claims.

Intel Defective Microprocessors Class Action Lawsuit Overview: 

• Who: A judge trimmed a class action lawsuit filed against Intel Corp. by a class of consumers. 
• Why: Consumers argue Intel knowingly sells defective microprocessors and delayed disclosing the issue to consumers after an independent project brought them to light in 2017.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Oregon federal court.

(Jan. 28, 2022)

A federal judge in Oregon has trimmed but otherwise kept alive a class action lawsuit alleging Intel Corp. knowingly sold defective microprocessors and delayed disclosing the issue to the public. 

Consumers who filed a class action lawsuit against Intel in 2018 claim the company knew for decades about the defects, which allegedly cause security issues, but failed to fix them or inform the public. 

An independent project discovered the defects in 2017, according to consumers; however, they argue Intel delayed disclosing the issue to the public until after that year’s holiday season. 

In trimming the twice-dismissed class action lawsuit, the judge agreed to dismiss claims for issues stemming from before September 2017, which he ruled was 90 days after Intel learned about one of the alleged defects. 

“Failure to disclose a defect of which Intel was not aware is not unfair conduct,” the judge said. 

The judge upheld claims related to Intel’s alleged conduct after that time, including one under California’s Unfair Competition Law, subclass claims of unconscionable and unfair conduct and a nationwide claim of unjust enrichment. 

Customers have argued that ways the defects can be exploited became public in 2018 and are continuing to grow to this day. 

Intel Must Fix Defects ‘At The Hardware Level,’ Customers Argue

Intel must fix the defects at the hardware level, consumers argue, or else new ways to exploit them will continue to be discovered.. 

Further, consumers argue Intel is unable to fix the alleged defects after the processors are made and that any patches the company’s releases diminish their speeds. 

“At this stage of the litigation, these allegations are enough to show that Intel took advantage of consumers’ lack of knowledge such that the resulting unfairness was glaringly noticeable, flagrant, complete and unmitigated,” the judge said. 

The judge did agree to throw out bellwether claims related to alleged misrepresentations. 

Earlier this month, a judge permanently dismissed claims Intel fiduciaries mishandled the retirement accounts of its former worker plan participants. 

Have you purchased a product with a defective microprocessor manufactured by Intel? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Steve D. Larson and Jennifer S. Wagner of Stoll Stoll Berne Lokting & Shlachter PC, Christopher A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP, Rosemary M. Rivas of Gibbs Law Group LLP, Gayle M. Blatt of Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP, Stuart A. Davidson of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, Melissa R. Emert of Stull Stull & Brody, Richard M. Hagstrom of Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC, Jennifer L. Joost of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP, Adam J. Levitt of DiCello Levitt & Casey LLP and Charles E. Schaffer of Levin Sedran & Berman LLP.

The Intel Defective Microprocessors Class Action Lawsuit is In re: Intel Corp. CPU Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 3:18-cv-00489, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• E-Trade Agrees To Pay $350K To End FINRA Claims It Failed To Prevent Manipulative Stock Trading
• Preliminary Approval Given for $98M Settlement To Resolve Claims Mattel Misled Investors About Its Income Tax Expenses
• Bonobos Dodges Class Action Lawsuit Over 2020 Data Breach
• Claims Intel Mishandled Funds Of Retirement Account Holders Permanently Dismissed Aside From One