Apple gets slapped

with lawsuit over
iPhone 4 reception
problems
Well, the first of what
could be many lawsuits
has landed on Apple and
AT&T's doors because of
the iPhone 4's antenna
reception problems.
A law firm representing
two Maryland resident
has filed a class action
complaint alleging
negligence, breach of
warranty, deceptive
trade practices, fraud
and misrepresentation
over the iPhone 4's
antenna.
The iPhone 4 has a
unique design in which
the antennas are built
into the metal frame of
the body. Some users
who hold the phone by
the left hand corner have
experienced weaker
cellular reception,
apparently because their
hand bridges two
antennas and causes
either attenuation or
antenna detuning.
The plaintiffs in the case
reported that they
immediately experienced
problems on their phones
due to the antenna
design. They argue that
Apple and AT&T knew
about the problems
before the launch of the
iPhone 4.
"Plaintiffs were sold
defective iPhone 4 units,
which drop calls and data
service when held in a
manner consistent with
normal wireless phone
use," the suit says.
"Plaintiffs have
experienced numerous
dropped calls and, as a
result, Plaintiffs are left
with a device that
cannot be used for the
normal purpose and in
the normal manner in
which such devices are
intended to be used."
The plaintiffs are seeking
class certification
because the list of
affected users numbers
in the millions, according
to the suit.
This case is being
brought by Ward & Ward,
PLLC and Charles A.
Gilman and is apparently
not tied to a Sacramento
law firm, which
previously sued Zynga
and Facebook over
allegedly scammy ads.
That Sacramento firm is
currently seeking iPhone
4 users who may be
affected by this issue so
that could represent
another suit facing Apple
and AT&T.