Wisconsin resident Xai Thao and her home insurance provider State Farm have jointly sued Apple for over $75,000 this week, claiming the company sold Thao a defective and dangerous iPhone 4s that started a fire in her home last year.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court, alleges the house fire was the direct result of the iPhone`s battery short-circuiting and heating up. Thao nor anyone else ever changed the battery in the iPhone, according to the complaint.On or about April 1, 2016, the iPhone failed, starting a fire in Thao`s home. Preliminary investigations show evidence of a significant and localized heating event in the battery area of the iPhone as well as remnants of internal shorting, indicating that an internal failure of the iPhone`s battery caused the fire. The complaint reiterates that the design, manufacture, and sale of the iPhone 4s created a `dangerous, unsafe, and defective` condition.
If designed improperly, lithium-ion batteries do have the potential of short-circuiting and catching fire, as Samsung learned the hard way with its recalled Galaxy Note7 last year. But, that hasn`t been a widespread issue with the iPhone 4s since it launched in 2011, so this is certainly an isolated incident.
Thao and State Farm are seeking at least $75,000 in damages from Apple, but the exact amount is to be determined if and when the case is heard.Tag: lawsuit Discuss this article in our forums
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