Samsung Galaxy S7 Phones Aren’t Water-Resistant, Class Action Says

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A class action lawsuit alleges that Samsung’s Galaxy S7 phones are not water-resistant as advertised, and that the company does not honor its warranty when the phones sustain water damage.

Plaintiff Daniel J. Kolodziej states that he purchased a Galaxy S7 phone specifically because it was advertised to be water-resistant, but when he used the phone and exposed it to water, the phone was irreparably damaged.

He claims that Samsung refused to honor the phone’s warranty. He seeks damages on behalf of himself and all other affected consumers.

The Galaxy S7 water-resistant class action lawsuit alleges that the entire line of Galaxy S7 phones are similarly not water-resistant, and that Samsung does not honor the warranties of any of the phones in the case of water damage. The phones include the Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, and S7 Active.

The Samsung phone class action lawsuit alleges that the Galaxy S7s were marketed specifically as being water-resistant, using tag lines such as “Bring on the spills, splashes, and dunks. Now you won’t need to put your phone in a bowl of rice because of a little water,” and promising water-resistance “in up to five feet of water for up to 30 minutes.”

Kolodziej reports that his phone was damaged as a result of water exposure that fell within the advertised water-resistant constraints of “up to five feet of water for up to 30 minutes.” He reports that he was using his phone in a shallow pool, and that his phone was inside of a plastic bag. The phone then dropped to the bottom of the pool, the bag sprang a leak, and the phone was exposed to water for no more than a few minutes. Kolodziej says that at no point was the phone in more than five feet of water.

The Samsung Galaxy class action lawsuit alleges that Samsung is repeatedly presented with customer complaints that the Galaxy S7 phones are not water-resistant as advertised, and systematically denies the allegations. Thus, they refuse to honor applicable warranties.

The Samsung class action lawsuit claims that the phones were advertised in a way intended to capitalize on consumers’ preference for durable, water-resistant phones. The water-resistant phone defect class action lawsuit argues that Samsung urged consumers to use the phones in the water, knowing that would damage the phones.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 class action lawsuit claims that inside the phone are water-sensitive pieces of paper that turn pink when the inside of the phone (and internal hardware, etc.) has been exposed to water. This proves that Samsung knew the phones are not water-resistant and would be damaged by water, the Samsung class action states.

Kolodziej seeks the following in the Samsung Galaxy S7 class action lawsuit: cease the unlawful material representations and omissions regarding the water resistance of the Galaxy S7 phones; conduct a corrective advertising campaign to alert the public of the defect; pay damages and restitution to affected consumers; and reimburse affected consumers for the loss of use and value of the Galaxy S7.

The plaintiff is represented by Francis J. “Casey” Flynn, Jr. of Law Office of Francis J. Flynn, Jr.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Water-Resistant Class Action Lawsuit is Daniel J. Kolodziej v. Samsung Electronics America Inc., Case No. 5:18-cv-00768, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.