A Pennsylvania woman claims there’s an overheating problem with several models of Samsung smartphones, not just the Galaxy Note 7.
While Samsung received a lot of negative attention earlier this year when some of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones overheated and caught fire, plaintiff Claire Gilligan now alleges the same problem extends to several other Samsung smartphones.
The Samsung class action lawsuit says these other phones use batteries that are similar or identical to those in the Galaxy Note 7 and are therefore prone to the same overheating problem.
These Samsung smartphones include the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, S6 Active, S7, S7 Edge, S7 Active, and Note 5.
Gilligan claims that by designing Samsung smartphone batteries to have the longest battery life with the shortest charge times, the company demanded more performance from these batteries than they could provide without creating a safety hazard.
She alleges the drive to squeeze greater performance out of these batteries led Samsung to cut corners. By designing some models with an integrated (i.e., non-removable) battery, Samsung removed safety features that are inherent in a non-integrated battery, the plaintiff claims.
Gilligan also alleges the batteries for the affected phones were never vetted through independent testing. She says Samsung is the only major smartphone manufacturer that relies solely on in-house testing of its batteries.
As a result, Gilligan claims, several different models of Samsung smartphones are prone to overheating, explosion and fire.
Despite being aware of the problems with these affected phones, Samsung has continued to market these phones as reliable, Gilligan says. The company has failed to warn its customers of the risk of overheating and fire posed by these Samsung smartphones, she claims.
Gilligan says she’s had to replace her own Galaxy S7 four times since purchasing it sometime in March 2016. Each phone overheated under normal use, she claims, causing its applications to fail.
She also claims she had to get a replacement charger after her original charger became excessively hot, emitting smoke and the smell of burned plastic.
Gilligan says if she had known in advance about the problems with these Samsung smartphone batteries, she would have paid less for one or would have avoided buying an S7 altogether.
Her claims echo those brought just a couple months ago in another Samsung smartphone class action lawsuit filed in a California federal court. Plaintiffs there also alleged that several different models of Samsung smartphone have the same overheating problem as the Galaxy Note 7.
Gilligan proposes to represent a plaintiff Class that would encompass all persons in the U.S. who purchased one of the affected Samsung smartphones within the applicable statutory limitations periods.
She is asking the court for an order requiring Samsung to offer owners of affected smartphones a refund and exchange program similar to the one already set up for Galaxy Note 7 owners. She also seeks an award of damages, restitution, attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.
Gilligan is represented by attorneys Lori G. Feldman and Courtney E. Maccarone of Levi & Korsinsky LLP and Janine L. Pollack of Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP.
The Samsung Smartphones Defective Battery Class Action Lawsuit is Claire Gilligan v. Samsung Electronics America Inc., Case No. 1:16-cv-09803, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
UPDATE February 22, 2017: A federal judicial panel will decide if four Samsung class action lawsuits should be consolidated into multidistrict litigation. All four lawsuits allege that multiple Samsung smartphone models are prone to catching fire.
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113 thoughts onFire Hazard Affects More Samsung Smartphones, Class Action Claims
My Galaxy A25 5G stopped working due to a fire. Last night, I was charging when an alarm went off in the middle of the night, telling me it was overheating. I unplugged the phone and disconnected it from the power source. So this morning, on my way to church, I tried charging it in my car, the alarm went off again, and it was serious because it melted the cord and port on the phone while it was in my hands. I am unable to charge the phone due to it heats up immediately. My insurance on my device told me it is covered under the 1-year warranty, and I need to contact Samsung directly. So I contacted them and was informed that it will take 3-5 business days for me to receive the box to mail it to them, then once they receive it, it can take another 10-12 days for them to determine a solution to my problem. So, doing the math, it could take 3 or more weeks for a suggestion of resolution. I already told them I don’t trust this phone. I am happy that no one was injured. They informed me that they will probably just fix the port on my phone, and I strongly feel they should back up their product and replace it altogether. I sent them photos of the phone and burned-out charger. I am now contacting the provider to work out a solution for the lack of phone, which it’s difficult to be without one when you’re raising a 3-year-old and an 80-year-old mom with health issues.
S6 active battery just explode in my filing cabinet that almost burned my house down. Thank goodness I had a fire extinguisher hanging in the kitchen.
My husband has a samsung S5 and I have a samsung S9 . They both get hot fairly quickly. It can burn your face if not careful
I have a Samsung Galaxy Prime which gets extremely hot to the degree of which I am unable to hold or use it. I contacted Samsung and was informed that since it was a gift, I would have to pay them $70.00 for a product that overheats so they can replace some parts as well as the battery.
I should not have to pay for a defect in their product. I have already replaced the battery, I am still experiencing the same issues of the newer battery becoming extremely hot. Please advise
How do I join the class action suit against Samsung my S7 was charging and the charger and cord melted and burned a hole in my hardwood floor. I’m very lucky it did not catch fire.
I have the same problem with my Samsung Galaxy S7. It overheats and it’s too hot to hold and it shuts itself off . The worst phone I’ve ever owned .
My Galaxy S7 Edge also cought on fire while charging. Samsung phones suck
I have the note 5 and the s6 and they get very hot..
Although my phone had not exploded in my pocket, it has overheated. Now that area has no surface skin sensation. The area itches constantly and stings surrounding the numb surface. Sometimes causing me to adjust sleeping positions. This will be my last Samsung phone after many S series phones exclusively.
stop lying, you are looking for a lawsuit buddy.
I have had Samsung Galaxy phones for many years along with many models. I always had the same problem with overheating and getting extremely hot. would cause my phone to shut down on its own and sometime would freeze up. I cell phone would be hot and I was not even using it. This problem went on and on. I would call Samsung and Sprint but would get no help. I have to switch phones going to iphone.