San Jose, July 20 (US): Apple Inc has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit by customers who claimed they knew and hid the “Butterfly” keyboards on its MacBook laptops at risk of failure.
The proposed initial settlement was filed late Monday night in federal court in San Jose, California, and requires a judge’s approval, Reuters reports.
Customers claimed that their MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro keyboards suffered from sticky and unresponsive keys, and that small amounts of dust or debris could make it difficult to type.
They also said that Apple’s service program was not adequate because the Cupertino, California-based company often provides replacement keyboards with the same issues.
The settlement covers customers who purchased MacBook, MacBook Air, and most MacBook Pro models between 2015 and 2019 in seven US states: California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Washington.
Apple denied any wrongdoing in its agreement to the settlement. It did not immediately respond on Tuesday to requests for comment
Clients’ attorneys expect maximum payments of $395 for people who have replaced multiple keyboards, $125 for people who have replaced one keyboard, and $50 for people who have replaced keycaps.
Customers also remain eligible for four years of free keyboard repairs after purchase.
Court papers show that clients’ law firms, Girard Sharp LLP and Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP, may require up to $15 million in legal fees, which will be deducted from the $50 million settlement fund.