iPod nano lawsuit will only benefit attorneys
updated 02:05 pm EDT, Thu October 27, 2005
BW on iPod lawsuit
The only real beneficiaries of a over scratched screens on Apple's tiny iPod nano music player may be the attorneys, BusinessWeek said in a report today. The latest legal controversy surrounding Apple began this week as a customer who bought ann iPod nano took it upon himself to file a class action in a U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif. His complaint: The display on the device tends to scratch easily. Jason Tomczak, the lead plaintiff in the nano case, is alleging that Apple knew about defects to the screen yet didn't recall the affected units, passing on the "expense, hassle, and frustration" of getting a replacement on to consumers. He's represented by Steven Berman, who said, "I'm surprised they don't just own up to it. It seems pretty obvious there's a problem."










figures
10/27, 02:18pm reply
It's a BS lawsuit to start with.
Any product with a high gloss finish will scratch.
How about a sleeve you dumb a** consumer!
whackjob
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
No Duh
10/27, 02:34pm reply
I've said that about Class actions for years. In the end the cost will get passed to the consumers, and the lawyers make all the money.
Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
listen class..
10/27, 02:41pm reply
class action lawsuits NEVER benefit consumers. Even if the consumers "win" $5 dollar off coupons on their next purchase we will ultimately have to pay for it in the end with higher product costs, less money for R+D etc. Just drop the suit and get on with your life and save us all time and money. Go buy a CREATIVE player or something.
jayparry
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
There is benefit.
10/27, 03:36pm reply
"class action lawsuits NEVER benefit consumers."
Yes, they do. The class action lawsuit instigated against GM over the Pinto is an example of a class action lawsuit that worked to benefit the consumer. Also the settlement of the class action lawsuit against airlines for overbooking now requires airlines to give the consumer compensation.
I'm not saying that all class action lawsuits are equal; there are good lawsuits and dumb lawsuits. I personally think this iPod nano suit falls under the dumb heading. But to say that consumers have never gotten any benefit out of class action lawsuits is simply not true.
mpbritt
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Pinto was a Ford
10/27, 03:53pm reply
I think the public is fed up with stupid lawsuits.
cartoonspin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2003
This is fixable
10/27, 04:03pm reply
Class action lawsuits can do very well by the consumer, or can be a nightmare of wasted money that benefits nobody. It depends entirely on the merits of the case, the relief sought, and the percentage of the take that goes to the legal team.
One possible fix: limit the legal fees that lawyers can recieve from a settlement, possibly as a fraction of the payout to the members of the class.
Another possibility: give the jury the option to declare a lawsuit frivolous as a part of the verdict, and apply substantial penalties to both the plaintiffs _and_ the lawyers representing them.
Of course, the legal system is what it is because of the laws we have passed. Those laws can be changed, and often are. Thus, to bring about any such result, you must get politicians involved. In the US, make your state and federal representatives aware of how much the current system angers you.
Scott
ScottEllsworth
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
GM over the Pinto?
10/27, 04:11pm reply
You mean Ford, and I believe those were several large personal injury suits and one criminal homocide charge that kicked off over 100 suits. I was a Pinto owner, we got recall retrofits made on DOT orders, but never any class settlement.
jpellino
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
The lawyers' gotta eat
10/27, 04:16pm reply
You're all taking the wrong side in this. Think of all the lawyers out there. They have to keep food on the table, which isn't easy when you're expected to buy each of your daughters a 3-series bimmer after their deboutant ball. Apple has lots of money, this class action would only throw them back a stock point or two. Think of the little guy, not the giant evil corporation.
EMC
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2002
If he brought it to an
10/27, 04:25pm reply
If he had brought it to an Apple store Apple said they would replace free of charge any bad displays. So his lawsuit is worthless. If he is suing because it scratches then it's his tuff luck. So either way his lawyer is going to lose.
jhorvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2005
It'll never happen
10/27, 04:33pm reply
The legislatures will never put limits on lawyers for one big reason: most legislators *are* lawyers.
TheBum
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2001