Samsung Galaxy S Random Shut Down Class Action Lawsuit

A federal class action lawsuit claims Samsung sold defective cell phones that it knew randomly shut down. The phones at issue in the lawsuit are the Samsung Galaxy S smartphones, which include four specific models: the Captive, Fascinate, Vibrant and Epic.

According to the Samsung class action lawsuit, the Galaxy S smartphones suffer from a Random Shut Down Defect which causes the Samsung phones to power off completely when the they are in “standby” mode. In order to re-activate a Samsung phone that has experienced the Random Shut Down Defect, the person must remove the battery from the phone, re-insert the battery, and then press the power button to turn the phone back on.

“This is only a temporary fix. Inevitably, the phone will shut down again, randomly…sometimes up to 10 times per day,” claims the class action lawsuit. Some customers dealt with the Random Shut Down Defect by disabling the standby mode, but this significantly decreases battery life because it causes the phone to run continuously and never enter the low-energy state offered by the standby mode.

“An avalanche of consumer complaints about the Random Shut Down Defect appeared on the internet almost immediately after the Samsung phones hit the shelves – at least as early as July 21, 2010, just three days after Samsung released the Captivate,” says the Samsung phone class action lawsuit.

“Despite the fact that complaints of the Random Shut Down Defect surfaced within the first week of the Samsung Phones’ release, Samsung continued to ship over 1 million phones in the first 45 days of their debut. Samsung then issued a press release lauding itself for such high sales figures.”

The class action lawsuit claims Samsung instructed retailers to continue to sell defective inventory and exchange defective devices for defective devices.

“Instead of repairing the Samsung Phones, or replacing them with non-defective phones, Samsung has continue to take advantage of its customers by replacing defective Samsung Phones with other defective Samsung Phones, as set forth in the internal service bulletin.”

The Samsung defective phone class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all persons who purchased a new Samsung phone manufactured, distributed or sold by Samsung in the United States. It is seeking actual damages and statutory damages, and an order requiring Samsung to establish a common fund for effective repairs to class members’ defective phones.

A copy of the Samsung Random Shut Down Defect Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.

Updated March 29th, 2011

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