US Judge Rejects Challenges To Apple's $50 Million Keyboard Settlement

A U.S. judge has approved Apple's $50 million class-action settlement resolving consumer claims over certain defective MacBook keyboards, in a ruling that spurned challenges to the deal. From a report: U.S. District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, federal court in his ruling called the settlement "fair, adequate and reasonable." Eleven consumers from New York, Florida, California, Michigan and several other states were the lead plaintiffs in the national class action alleging consumer protection and warranty claims. The lawsuit accused Apple of failing to provide sufficient repairs or troubleshooting help for certain MacBook "butterfly" keyboards made between 2015 and 2019.

$15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[Petersko]

So, to summarize, this was an agreement a year old. Some people objected on the grounds they could do better, and that the amounts ($50 - $395 based on the circumstances) wouldn't make class members whole). The $15M in legal fees looks to be over and above the $50M.

Decision is here: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.... [thomsonreuters.com]

The original claim, according to Reuters: "Customers claimed that MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro keyboards suffered from sticky and unresponsive keys, and that tiny amounts of dust or debris could make it difficult to type."

Judge said, no, the agreement is fine, you can't just call it off because you think you can do better. And apparently so far 86,117 claims have been received, and only 1,733 exclusion request and 6 objections.

So Apple's fine with it, the judge is fine with it, the majority of filers approve... just some malcontents gumming up the works.

Re: $15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[fluffernutter]

It costs $700 to replace one of these keyboards, once. I had mine replaced under applecare, only to have it go again in two years, after applecare. It has been crap for two years now and this laptop has at least four years more How could anyone be happy with this settlement? It is more likely people just thought you can't fight a wealthy company, and this proves them right.

Re:

[Petersko]

I don't recall hearing much about class action lawsuits that cover 100% of anything.

Re: $15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[fluffernutter]

Because you can't fight a wealthy company.

Re: $15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[fluffernutter]

The objective of most lawsuits is to compensate the plaintiff for their loss. Except when it's against a wealthy company it seems.

Re:

[tlhIngan]

It costs $700 to replace one of these keyboards, once. I had mine replaced under applecare, only to have it go again in two years, after applecare. It has been crap for two years now and this laptop has at least four years more How could anyone be happy with this settlement? It is more likely people just thought you can't fight a wealthy company, and this proves them right.

You were free to exclude yourself from the class action then and then sue Apple yourself to get the entire money refunded. Class actions

Re: $15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[ArmoredDragon]

But would Apple even bother to defend it in small claims court?

Re: $15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[fluffernutter]

These keyboards last two years. Meaning in the life of the laptop you will need at least three or four replacements. So no this doesn't really cover it.

Re: $15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[ArmoredDragon]

That's almost certainly not what it actually costs. Apple inflates the shit out of repair costs to encourage you to buy another one rather than fix it. My biggest fan in the world will almost certainly chime in and deny it, but don't listen to him, he's got some serious issues.

Re: $15,000,000 to the lawyers.

[fluffernutter]

I have read you can do it for 30-50 but of course then you're screwed if you wreck it.

Re:

[LostMyBeaver]

The lawyers don't give a crap about the users, they are there to get paid.

I think we need to fix the consumer protection agencies around the world. This should be a case where the CPA calls Apple, says "you have 3 months to fix the problem or your license to sell products will be suspended. If there is a delay due to engineering, supply line or acts of god, you can file for a 3 month extension. Otherwise, you must refund the product's full purchase price".

Who cares about $350, I want the product fixed.

Tried it recently

[sound+vision]

I recently tried one of the butterfly keyboards for the first time, on someone's Macbook. I'd heard they weren't nice to type on, but I didn't realize how bad they really were. I thought it would be slightly worse than my cheapo laptop, but it's not. It's way worse, far and away the worst computer keyboard I've ever touched. Hard to describe to someone who's never used one. The closest thing I can compare it to is this [wikimedia.org].

apple's motto

[Anonymous Coward]

About half the time, they get around to doing the right thing about five years later. I can't believe more people aren't pissed off about the "feature" in newer iOS that lets other people delete messages they sent off your phone. Totally awesome for custody issues, workplace abuse, labor law violations, stalkers and all kinds of people. There's literally no good reason for it. If you make a typo and it's not obvious what you meant, just do what people have done for 25 years and send another message clarifyi

Re:

[NoMoreACs]

About half the time, they get around to doing the right thing about five years later. I can't believe more people aren't pissed off about the "feature" in newer iOS that lets other people delete messages they sent off your phone. Totally awesome for custody issues, workplace abuse, labor law violations, stalkers and all kinds of people. There's literally no good reason for it. If you make a typo and it's not obvious what you meant, just do what people have done for 25 years and send another message clarifying.

You get a short time to "take back" or Edit a Text sent with the Messages App to another iPhone User. It doesn't work with SMS texts.

Plus, it is "journaled".

https://support.apple.com/guid... [apple.com]

Seems fairly well thought out to me.

Whatever happened to iPhones' batterygate?

[antdude]

Did they give the money out for those who submitted? I did with iPhone 6+s.