Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Samsung is facing a proposed nationwide class action lawsuit alleging that glass on certain Galaxy smartphone cameras spontaneously shatters, rendering the camera unusable.
Wisconsin plaintiff Dale Kessler says he purchased a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge in December 2016, along with insurance for the smartphone.
One of reasons Kessler bought this particular Samsung smartphone was its “Dual Pixel Sensor” technology, as he wanted a smartphone that would allow him to take clear and detailed photos.
However, just eight days after he purchased the Samsung smartphone, Kessler noticed the glass covering the outward facing camera was shattered.
At the time, the device was resting on a counter and he heard a popping sound coming from the smartphone. When Kessler walked over to the phone, he discovered that the rear camera lens was shattered in the shape of a perfect circle.
When he contacted Samsung, Kessler says the company refused to replace the allegedly defective smartphone under the manufacturer’s warranty, insisting that he had caused the physical damage to the phone.
Unhappy with Samsung’s response, Kessler began researching online to see if other customers had experienced similar situations. He quickly discovered that many Samsung smartphone customers reported the exact same defect, manifesting under similar conditions, in each of the S7 series devices.
“Despite receiving numerous customer complaints describing the same issue, Samsung has consistently denied responsibility, instead blaming its customers and refusing to repair or refund the devices. Samsung has also failed to disclose the risk of this defect to the public,” the lawsuit states.
As a result of Samsung’s action, Kessler alleges that he and other consumers have suffered injury in fact and incurred fees and costs associated with the defective Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, and S7 Active. According to Kessler, a smartphone without a usable camera is a device with only partial functionality, and without a repair or refund from Samsung, consumers are left with limited options.
Kessler says that to replace the device at retail price would cost between $650 and $800, while replacing the device through insurance requires paying a deductible that may be between $175 and $250.
The plaintiff is seeking certification of a nationwide Class of persons who purchased or leased a Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, or Galaxy S7 Active.
Along with treble and punitive damages, the proposed class action is asking for relief in the form of an order enjoining Samsung from its “unfair business practices,” injunctive relief, restitution, and disgorgement in an amount to be determined at trial.
These allegations of the Galaxy smartphone camera glass randomly shattering come as Samsung has been under immense scrutiny over the past several months for defective products. The most notable defect plaguing their devices has been the Note 7 battery catching fire, but many other devices have suffered similar quality control issues, including a recall of exploding washing machines.
Kessler is represented by Lynn Sarko, Michael D. Woerner, Erin M. Riley and Alison S. Gaffney of Keller Rohrback LLP; and James A. Olson and Dixon R. Gahnz of Lawton & Cates SC.
The Samsung Galaxy Camera Shattering Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Kessler v. Samsung Electronics America Inc., Case No. 2:17-cv-00082-LA, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Division.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru vehicle data collection class action lawsuit investigation
May 17, 2024 | Legal News
110 thoughts onSamsung Class Action Says Galaxy Smartphone Cameras Shatter
My mom & I just got the Galaxy S7 the end of November 2016. About 2 months after we got them, we noticed in the 2 lower corners of my mom’s phone, the glass is cracked. Being that my mom barely uses her phone & it never has been dropped, we assume it was like this out of the box. We were still within our 90 day warranty period from Costco so we took it back. We were told that there was nothing they could do because we couldn’t prove that we didn’t damage the phone so now my mom is stuck with a phone with broken glass & it’s not even paid for yet. I thought with these new phones having this “gorilla glass”, this glass was supposed to be almost unbreakable yet after all these years of owning cell phones & never having a problem (even with ones that were dropped), the one that should be practically unbreakable, is broken. Very disappointed that these kind of problems automatically get blamed on the customer.- especially with what we now have to pay for these phones now that the cell carriers no longer subsidize the cost of the phones in exchange for signing a service contract.
I’m currently leasing two s7 edges through verizon, and both of our phones have had the camera Crack, just lying on the table. Had to pay $400 to replace both. This needs to be fixed!!!
I also purchaced 2 galaxy 5 for my kid and myself my battery gets very hot to touch.
This has been doing this to my old Galaxy S3 and Note 7 and and 2 others from Galaxy family . Ugh very upset.
I have the galaxy s7 edge
I have a Galaxy S 5 and the same thing happened to mine. I bought it in 2016
This has happened to 2 of my galaxy s5 models.
This happened day four of new phone. After calls and huge deductibles hanging overhead and verizon claiming theyd “never” heard of this problem, i found a replacement lens on amazon $7 bucks.
Same thing happened to mine! I have the script from the back and forth with Samsung as well! What a mess!
I purchased a galaxy s7 active last year also and my camera lens did the same thing and when I got in touch with assurion they said that there was nothing that they could do. I totally agree we do pay a lot for these phones and when something goes wrong with them they should have some type of policy that should cover the defect with no hassles.
The Samsung s7 edge is supposed to be waterproof I put mine in the pool my kids took some pics then it would not cm charge after like hours it kept saying there was moisture detected in the charging port I had to literally blow dry the port to charge it. Then it started to get hot everytime I charged it the company tried to say it was a software malfunction ando wanted me to erase all my info and reset the phone. I also had my camera Crack not once but twice and had to pay to replace the phone through the he insurance.