Class Action Lawsuit Alleges iPhone 6 Exploded, Causing Severe Burn Injuries
A recent class action lawsuit filed by a Texas man claims that a defect in his Apple iPhone 6 battery caused the device to catch fire in his hands, severely burning his eyes and wrist.
The complaint was filed on May 6, 2022, by lead plaintiff Robert Franklin, who says his iPhone injured him in August 2019. The incident occurred when Franklin was listening to music on the phone when he noticed the music playing on his iPhone began to skip.
“As he picked up his iPhone to investigate, his iPhone suddenly exploded and caught fire in his face, causing him to fall to the ground,” the complaint states. “In an attempt to mitigate his fall, Mr. Franklin instinctively tried to brace himself with his right hand. When Mr. Franklin fell to the ground, he immediately felt a burning pain in his eyes and right wrist. Mr. Franklin suffered injuries to his eyes and wrist as a result of this incident, and these injuries continue to plague Mr. Franklin to this day.”
Franklin alleges that a defect in Apple’s iPhone 6 battery causes it to overheat, which creates a danger of explosion and fire. Plaintiff also claims he incurred economic loss damages associated with the loss and replacement of his iPhone 6 and subsequent medical treatment for his injuries.
The punitive class action further alleges that consumers were provided an express warranty at the time of sale of the iPhone 6, and Apple warranted the iPhone 6 would be free from defects, meet design specifications, and be suitable for its intended purpose.
Franklin wants to represent anyone in Texas who bought an iPhone 6 with a defective battery. He is suing for breach of warranty and deceptive trade practices and seeks certification of the Class, damages, interest, and a jury trial.
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Has the iPhone 6 Been Recalled?
While Apple has not issued an official recall for the iPhone 6, the company has admitted that a limited number of iPhone 6S models have a battery deficiency, with the problems limited to those phones manufactured between September and October 2015.
Apple has also launched a free repair and replacement program for affected devices, as well as a serial number checking tool that allows iPhone owners to check whether their phone suffers with the problem.
However, Apple has dismissed the reports that iPhones are spontaneously catching fire. The company stated that it analyzed the affected iPhone units and determined the fires were caused by “external physical damage.”
3 Signs Your iPhone May Be About to Explode
- Bulging on the back of the phone. Before a battery explodes, it will usually bulge and swell enough to push outward on the plastic case.
- Hissing noise coming from near the battery. Do NOT hold it up to your ear to hear it better.
- The phone gets very hot and won’t cool down. Don't continue to use it or charge it.
If your iPhone shows any of those signs, put it on a non-combustible surface so it won’t start a fire if it ignites. Once it cools down, take it to an Apple store to have it evaluated.
What To Do If You Were Injured
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention - Toughing it out can compromise your recovery and leaves you with no documentation of the extent of your injuries.
- Take Pictures of Your Injuries Daily - If you didn’t start on day one, it’s better to start now than never.
- Retain All Parts and Pieces From the Damaged Phone - Put the parts in a plastic bag and label it with the model and serial number of your phone.
- Contact the Law Office of Schmidt & Clark, LLP, Immediately - The sooner we begin building your case to go to trial, the more leverage you have.
Get a Free iPhone Explosion Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers
The Products Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in iPhone Explosion Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new personal injury and property damage cases in all 50 states.
Again, if you or a loved one suffered a personal injury or property damage caused by an iPhone that overheated, caught fire or exploded, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing an iPhone Explosion Lawsuit and our lawyers can help.
