IPhone buyers file class actions against Apple following DOJ antitrust lawsuit

IPhone class actions overview: 

• Who: Consumers filed three class action lawsuits against Apple Inc. 
• Why: The lawsuits claim Apple violates antitrust laws by using its iPhone market power to block competitor apps.
• Where: The Apple class actions were filed in federal court in New Jersey and California.

Consumers filed three class action lawsuits alleging Apple uses its iPhone market power to block competitors from entering the marketplace.

The class actions follow an Apple antitrust lawsuit the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and 16 state and district attorneys general filed claiming Apple uses unfair monopolistic power against competitor apps.

The consumers filed the class actions in federal court in New Jersey and California.

“Rather than competing on the merits, Apple used anticompetitive techniques to lock consumers and developers into its ecosystem, thwart nascent competitive threats and build a ‘moat’ around the iPhone that would ensure monopoly profits for years to come,” the lawsuit filed in New Jersey says.

Apple’s monopoly allowed it to charge noncompetitive prices, class actions claim

Apple suppressed super apps, cloud-based gaming apps, messaging apps, smartwatches and digital wallets, according to the California class actions. 

Apple’s monopolistic power allowed it to charge noncompetitive prices for its phones, up to $1,599 for the newest models, the class actions claim.

“As Apple’s power grew, its leverage over third parties reinforced its tight control over how third parties innovate and monetize on and off the smartphone in ways that were anticompetitive and exclusionary,” the New Jersey lawsuit says.

Do you think Apple abuses its power? What do you think of the Apple iPhone antitrust class actions? Let us know in the comments.

The class in the New Jersey lawsuit is represented by James E. Cecchi of Carella Byrne Cecchi Brody and Agnello PC.

The class in the California lawsuit filed by Deborah Collins is represented by Ben M. Harrington and Steve Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP and Eamon P. Kelly, Joseph M. Vanek and Phillip F. Cramer of Sperling and Slater LLC.

The class in the California lawsuit filed by Jared Schermer is represented by Israel David and Blake Hunter Yagman of Israel David LLC and Mario A. Moya and Rebecca M. Hoberg of Moya Law Firm.

The iPhone class action lawsuits are Goldfus v. Apple Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-04108, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey; Collins, et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 3:24-cv-01796, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California; and Schermer v. Apple Inc., Case No. 3:24-cv-01815, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• DOJ hits Apple with antitrust lawsuit over iPhone monopoly
• Hermès class action claims retailer won’t sell Birkin bags to customers unless they spend big first
• HP seeks dismissal of replacement ink cartridge monopoly class action
• Goodyear, Michelin, others face another class action over tire price-fixing