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Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over iPhone 4 Glass Breakage


LA Weekly reports (via The Next Web) that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple over the iPhone 4 and its claimed propensity for breakage. The lawsuit feeds off the "Glassgate" publicity that has seen the iPhone 4 judged to be more accident-prone than other smartphones due to Apple's use of glass on both the front and back of the device.

Apparently fed up and pissed off, California resident Donald LeBuhn filed a class action lawsuit earlier this week in L.A. County against Apple, claiming the company knows about the design flaw and refuses to warn consumers that "normal" use leads essentially to a broken phone.

According to his lawsuit, first reported by Courthouse News Service, LeBuhn threw down $252 in September for a new iPhone 4, but three weeks later the glass broke when his daughter accidentally dropped it approximately three feet to the ground while sending a text message.

He previously owned a 3GS version of the iPhone and claims the glass did not break when accidentally dropped from similar heights.

In his filing, LeBuhn cites Apple marketing materials for the iPhone 4, which claim that the "ultradurable" glass used in the iPhone 4 is "20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic". According to LeBuhn, these claims are misleading at best, and his suit seeks full refunds for customers covered by the class action suit and reimbursement for any repairs made.

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17 months ago


In his filing, LeBuhn cites Apple marketing materials for the iPhone 4, which claim that the "ultradurable" glass used in the iPhone 4 is "20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic".


HARDness is a measure of how much the material will resist being scratched. If two materials are rubbed together, the harder one will scratch the other.

TOUGHness is a measure of how much energy can be absorbed by the material before it fractures.

The fact that it is hard means that it's difficult for you to scratch it, but if you drop it from a height of 20 feet onto concrete, it will still break (surprise, surprise).


According to LeBuhn, these claims are misleading at best, and his suit seeks full refunds for customers covered by the class action suit and reimbursement for any repairs made.


Don't blame Apple for "misleading" you with facts and correct word choice. It's not Apple's fault you slept through high school.
Rating: 1 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
Great, we'll all get $1.25 and some lawyer will get $100,000.... what a great waste of time, energy and money. I've dropped my IP4 a couple of times, no breakage.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
I've dropped my iPhone 4 from a number of heights accidentally. Sometimes over a metre onto a very hard surface. And theres still no damage to it. Ok, a few scratches if you hold it under a quite bright light. But nothing that you'd ever see. It still looks pretty shiny, way more than my 3G did.

There might be some truth to this? But I doubt it.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
"Apparently fed up and pissed off, California resident Donald LeBuhn filed a class action lawsuit"

Huh? My impression is the reason for class action lawsuits is for the originator and lawyers to make a lot of money. If he wanted to fix thins there are better ways.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
only in america :rolleyes:
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
Does he think Apple has engineering some sort of magical glass that won't shatter? Apple says their glass is strong and scratch resistant, but some on, does he expect any phone's glass to not smash when dropped?

He's dropped his 3G more than once (similar heights, not similar height), his daughter's dropped her phone.

Maybe they should work on holding the phone so they don't drop it, or buy a case, because they seem pretty clumsy to me.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
Sounds like they're trying to bring a class action lawsuit against the laws of physics- specifically gravity and impulse. I really don't see the logic here.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
Tbh he bought a phone he knew had glass on both sides, and complains if it might break easier.

I have dropped mine countless times and no breaks though.. Fingers crossed.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
You know, that's super dumb. Anyone with any science degree knows that anything that is stiffer and harder is more brittle. Apple's claim is absolutely valid in that it wont scratch, it just didn't say that the tradeoff is more brittle. come on, glass on concrete = shatter. Duh.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
17 months ago
News flash: glass breaks when you drop (most of the time)! :D
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives

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