Apple iPhone charger class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Elizabeth Steines filed a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc.
- Why: Steines claims Apple misleads consumers by not including a charger with the sale of a new iPhone device.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.
Apple misleads consumers by not including a charger with the purchase of a new iPhone, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Elizabeth Steines claims Apple began selling iPhones without the charger last year. Apple’s failure to include a charger with a new iPhone sale is not adequately disclosed to consumers, who are left unaware they purchased “an incomplete Product, devoid of essential functionality,” according to the Apple class action.
Apple only discloses in small print on the back of the iPhone product’s box that the iPhone Lighting Cable, power adapter and headphones are sold separately, the Apple class action states.
Steines argues that, by selling the iPhone without a charger, the product is “not adequate for its intended use, which was to function as a phone and mini-computer, because it requires power or energy to operate.”
Steines claims further that consumers who buy a new iPhone and don’t already own a charger are forced to spend more money to purchase one, ultimately increasing the price of the product, according to the lawsuit.
“When Defendant removed the charger, not only was the price of the Product not correspondingly reduced by the amount of the power adapter, the price increased, unrelated to other added functionality which could justify this increase,” the Apple class action states.
Apple claims environment as reason to not include iPhone charger with purchase
Apple claims its decision not to include a charger with an iPhone purchase is environmental, according to the Apple class action.
Steines argues, however, that Apple “could have taken other measures to promote environmental sustainability” instead of allegedly “rendering the Product non-functional unless an additional purchase was made.”
Apple is accused of unjust enrichment, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract, as well as violating the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, several state consumer fraud acts and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Steines demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of monetary, statutory and/or punitive damages for herself and all class members.
She wants to represent an Illinois class and multistate consumer fraud class of individuals who have purchased a new iPhone during the statute of limitations for each alleged cause of action.
Consumers filed a separate class action lawsuit against Apple earlier this month, arguing the company ignored privacy advocates by releasing AirTag devices that can be used by stalkers and abusers to track their victims.
Have you purchased a new iPhone from Apple that did not come with a charger? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C.
The Apple iPhone charger class action lawsuit is Steines, et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 3:22-cv-03099, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
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1,563 thoughts onApple class action claims new iPhones don’t come with chargers
Recently got a new iPhone upgrade for mother’s day and there wasn’t a charger in the box
had same issue on recent purchase of iPhone 14 Plus
I join all of these folks in complaining about the need to spend more money on a charging adapter up to $49 having just spent $1,099 on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The change came when they changed from a USB to USB-C cable and every phone since has come sans charging block and ear phones. Apple clearly wants us to spend more money on their charger block and more noteworthy on their AirPods Pro which are in the $300 range. At best it is an unfair practice intending to generate more revenue. We were happy with the headphones until they were no longer available and the only remedy is apple AirPods. The lightning cable was enough of a product specific cable to lock purchasers into shopping only Apple. They continue to push until regulators stop them and all of us should be compensated.
We brought 2 Iphone14pro without the proper chargers
I purchased an iPhone 14 pro from Verizon and was not told about needing a charging block.
I currently have the iPhone 14 pro max and it didn’t come with any charging adapter. We also have an iPhone 12 mini and an iPhone 13, none of those brought adapters either. No headphones either just a short iPhone to type C cable that many people don’t have and most likely will be forced to purchase the adapter to be able to charge their device.
I just purchased the iPhone 14 (not pro) but same situation! And representative tried to sell me one for an additional $20! Yes include me Elizabeth Prentiss
We bought an Apple iphone 14 pro from Verizon and another from T Mobile that did not come with charging blocks. Only thing in box was the phone.
I have bought two I phone 14 pro max from Verizon it didn’t come with block
I also purchased the iPhone 14 pro unaware of it not coming with a charger
Purchased (2) iPhone pro max around 5-20-2022. Phones came with no charging blocks
Yes