Apple settles lawsuit over ‘butterfly’ MacBook keyboard for $50 million

Apple agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class action lawsuit by customers who claimed to know and conceal that the “butterfly” keyboards on its MacBook laptops were prone to defects.

The proposed preliminary settlement was filed in federal court in San Jose, California late Monday night and requires a judge’s approval.

Customers claimed that MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro keyboards suffered from sticky and unresponsive keys, and that small amounts of dust or dirt made typing difficult.

They also said Apple’s service program was inadequate because the Cupertino, California-based company often supplied replacement keyboards with the same problems.

The settlement covers customers who purchased MacBook, MacBook Air and most MacBook Pro models in seven states between 2015 and 2019.Paul Martinka

The settlement concerns customers who purchased MacBook, MacBook Air and most MacBook Pro models in seven states between 2015 and 2019: California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Washington.

Apple denied wrongdoing by agreeing to a settlement. It did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday

Client attorneys expect a maximum payout of $395 for people who replaced multiple keyboards, $125 for people who replaced one keyboard, and $50 for people who replaced keycaps.

Customers also continue to be eligible for four years of free keyboard repairs after their purchase.

The clients’ law firms, Girard Sharp LLP and Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP, can claim up to $15 million in legal fees, which would be deducted from the $50 million settlement fund, court documents show.

The case concerns: MacBook Keyboard Litigation, US District Court, Northern District of California, No. 18-02813.

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