Apple iPad Hit with Class Action Lawsuit for Removing AT&T Unlimited Data Plan

Well, that didn’t take long. Apple is facing its first potential class action lawsuit less than two months after it released the 3G-enabled iPad. Angry iPad owners claim Apple and AT&T sold the 3G-enabled devices with the promise that “unlimited data” service plans would always be available at the customers’ option, but discontinued the unlimited data plan on June 7, 2010.

One of the appeals of the iPad was that customers were promised the flexibility to switch back and forth between the limited data plan, the unlimited data plan and the no 3G data plan, based on their data needs. The availability of an unlimited 3G data plan was particularly attractive to customers who were willing to pay nearly $130 more for a 3G-enabled iPad so they could switch in and out of the unlimited data plan when they needed it (such as when they go on vacation and want to use their iPads to download movies and other data-intensive content) and not pay for it when they didn’t need the unlimited data.

If approved, the potential class action lawsuit will be seeking damages and restitution for all persons in the United States who purchased an Apple iPad with 3G capability between April 30, 3010 and June 6, 2010. For more information on the Apple 3G Enabled iPad and AT&T Unlimited Data Plan class action lawsuit, read the complaint here.

UPDATE 1: A class action lawsuit settlement has been preliminarily approved!

UPDATE 2: Details on how to file a claim to receive up to $40 cash from the iPad Class Action Lawsuit Settlement are now available! See our claim filing instructions.

UPDATE 3: The iPad unlimited data plan class action settlement was approved on March 11, 2014. Checks worth $40 were mailed to eligible claimants on July 18, 2014. Congratulations to our viewers who filed a valid claim and got PAID!