Apple Settles Class Action Claim

Australian nationals who purchased an Apple 17-inch LCD Studio Display monitor that was identified as being faulty will not benefit from a class action settlement but US national will.

The lawsuit claimed that the inverter board of the Display was faulty, causing the gradient dimming of the top or bottom half of the screen of the Display and a power light to constantly blink on and off in a short-short-long pattern to signal a problem. Apple denies all allegations and has asserted many defenses. The settlement they claim is is not an admission of wrongdoing or an indication that any law was violated.

US national who purchased the problem monitor are classed as being a member of the Settlement Class and are automatically included in the settlement unless a valid request for exclusion is mailed to Class Counsel postmarked on or before January 19, 2007.

To qualify for settlement benefits, you must be a United States resident who purchased in the United States a new Apple 17-inch LCD Studio Display monitor and have already paid or will pay in the future for a repair covered by the settlement. The Apple 17-inch LCD Studio Display monitor was sold beginning in May 2001.

Settlement benefits:
Repair Provider – Year Repair Performed – Refund Amount
· Apple – During the Second Year After You Purchased the Display – $400
· Apple – During the Third Year After You Purchased the Display – $350
· Third-Party Provider – During the Third Year After You Purchased the Display – The actual amount you paid (excluding tax) up to a maximum of $150
· Third-Party Provider – During the Third Year After You Purchased the Display – The actual amount you paid (excluding tax) up to a maximum of $75

SHN is waiting on an aswer from Apple as to how many of the monitors were sold in Australia.