Two class action lawsuits fired at Apple over M1 MacBook cracked screen allegations

Date:
Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:38:38 +0000

Description:
Numerous complaints coming through earlier this year from MacBook owners have snowballed into lawsuits.

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Apple is the target of a pair of freshly filed class action lawsuits around the issue of M1-powered MacBooks and their alleged susceptibility to cracks
on the screen ( an issue which came to light at the start of August ).

As spotted by Toms Hardware, 9to5 Mac reported on a law firm in the US, Migliaccio & Rathod LLP, lining up a suit over this last week, which was
filed in California on September 14. And now a second firm of lawyers, Bursor & Fisher, has also just filed a suit (again in California) on that very same day (Tuesday just gone). Check out all the best laptops around And the best Macs to buy this year How to update a MacBook

The broad accusation is that Apple is knowingly selling MacBook Air and Pro notebooks (with M1 processors) which have displays that are prone to cracking during normal usage due to the thin design of these machines.

While some users have had such issues resolved by Apple with no charge, as 9to5 Mac observes, in other cases, these faults arent corrected without a hefty bill for repairs (as you might imagine where a screen replacement is involved).

Migliaccio & Rathod LLP observes: Many users allege that they have opened their devices from the closed position without applying any undue pressure, only to find dramatic cracks in the retina display, often accompanied by
black bars running across the screen.

Others report that the crack followed a simple adjustment of the screens viewing angle. In none of these cases would a reasonable consumer expect such activity to damage their device, let alone cause a screen crack that impairs its functionality.

The law firm adds: Unfortunately, Apples customer service has not been receptive to these grievances. Users complain that Apple representatives insist the culprit is a small item or particle that gets lodged between the keyboard and screen upon its closing, even when that explanation runs completely counter to users experiences.

In the second suit, Bursor & Fisher states: The M1 MacBook is defective, as the screens are extraordinarily fragile, cracking, blacking out, or showing magenta, purple and blue lines and squares, or otherwise ceasing to function altogether.

It further observes: Thousands of users from across the globe have reported this issue directly to Apple and on Apple sponsored forums. Nonetheless, consumers who have attempted to secure replacements or repairs have been rebuffed by Apple, often forced to pay out of pocket upwards of between $600 and $850 for repairs themselves or to secure replacements without Apples assistance.

Bursor & Fisher also adds that some MacBook owners whove had a repair have seen the problem happen again, and thats supposedly true for those who have had their machine replaced as well in some cases.

Migliaccio & Rathod LLP echoes the sentiment that even after a repair has
been paid for, theres no guarantee that the screen crack defect wont reoccur at a later date. Analysis: Stepping up a gear

The fact that a pair of lawsuits have now been fired off against Apple on the same day earlier this week certainly represents these cracked display complaints seriously stepping up a gear.

Whats clear is that there are a lot of anecdotal reports online of folks who are certainly frustrated to have their display develop this problem, claiming its through no fault of their own, and that the crack appeared suddenly in
the course of everyday usage (without the notebook being mishandled in any way). Some say theyve been able to get the repair paid for by Apple, and others say theyve been charged for the work.

At any rate, gathering together complaints under the umbrellas of two
separate class action lawsuits will doubtless help to focus Apples attention on this matter, and itll be interesting to watch the MacBook makers reaction to this. Shop all the latest MacBook Pro deals and sales



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/two-class-action-lawsuits-fired-at-apple-over-m 1-macbook-cracked-screen-allegations/


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