Softpedia
 

NEWS CATEGORIES:



NEWS ARCHIVE >>
SOFTPEDIA REVIEWS >>
MEET THE EDITORS >>
Home > News > Apple > Iworld > iPod

March 14th, 2009, 16:07 GMT · By

iPod Explodes in Kid's Pocket, Parent Sues Apple

SHARE:

Adjust text size:


Apple iPod touch
Enlarge picture
Ten employees of the Kenwood Towne Centre (Ohio) Apple store are now co-defendants in a defective product lawsuit filed by the parent of a child whose iPod touch exploded in his pocket, injuring him. According to suit filings, the kid was allegedly burned when his iPod touch “caught on fire.”

Named only as “John Does (1-10)” in the lawsuit, the Apple store's employees are now accused of negligently failing to inform the plaintiffs that the iPod touch “would need to be inspected for defects” after its purchase. The employees were also supposed to inspect the device themselves, as well as provide instruction sheets or warning, which they didn't.

The full name of  Lynette Antrobus’ son is not given in the lawsuit. He is identified either as “A.V” or “minor child.” Both Antrobus and her son live in Kentucky. According to the suit, the child was at his school desk in a Kentucky school when he heard a “pop,” and realized his iPod touch had “exploded and caught on fire.” He then ran to the bathroom and removed his pants, and his mother soon arrived to take him to a doctor for treatment.

The plaintiff suffered second-degree burns to his leg, “and was otherwise caused pain and suffering,” the lawsuit states. According to the filing, the boy continues to suffer “pain, mental distress, emotional distress, and otherwise for the rest of his life.” The suit also states that he lost the value of his clothing, and the value of the “Apple iTouch [sic].” The family asks for $75,000 in compensatory damages, and at least $75,000 in punitive damages, plus court and attorney’s fees, and another $75,000 in “special damages,” according to an ifoAppleStore report.

The source also notes that the exploding iPod is termed “Apple iTouch,” instead of “iPod touch,” which is the correct name of the product. Also incorrectly identified is the actual company being sued, “Apple Computer Inc.” The company producing the Macintosh dropped the “Computer” part of its name in January 2007, ifoAppleStore points out.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK:

7,073 hits · 6 comments · Link to this article · Print article · Send to friend · Subscribe to news

MUST-READ RELATED ARTICLES:


Mac OS X 10.5.7 Release Pinned Down for March

Getting Stuff onto Your iPod shuffle

iPhone OS 3.0 Announced

Mac OS X 10.5.7 Build 9J30 Seeded to Developers

What's So Great About the New shuffle

READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Raphiel on 14 Mar 2009, 22:06 UTC reply to this comment

OMG! Trashing my ipod touch now,THNX 4 the info


Comment #2 by: oxy on 14 Mar 2009, 23:57 UTC reply to this comment

if i was apple, i would give that kid a new itouch and a piece of candy, and the parents of that child the boot. I'm sick of these americans who struggle to find reasons and "circumstances" to sue some company for monetary purposes. They rott in their own goddamn stupidity.


Comment #3 by: Mondo Chris on 15 Mar 2009, 18:22 UTC reply to this comment

It maybe it's not an apple.inc product so investigations are required.


Comment #4 by: LYKRANIAN on 17 Mar 2009, 00:58 UTC reply to this comment

I would want a new iPod and some candy. Apple is suffering already, so people should get off their backs about un-researched incidents. I will take all your ipod touches, though...


Comment #5 by: Tom on 19 Mar 2009, 18:30 UTC reply to this comment

If I was apple, I would ask them If I could pay for the plastic surgery to remove the scars from his legs. Then I would ask them how much would it cost to get that particular memory removed from my brain? To have your pants catch on fire, with burning nylon to the leg, to be hacked on in school by the other student, just because you wanted to be able to listen to music?

Sheesh, they should sue for millions and should get it! Apple makes so much money, and must have known about this defect. Like the ford pinto, they need to pay up or make a better product. If this happened to my son, I would be mighty stressed out!

Comment #5.1 by: rational on 04 Feb 2011, 03:50 GMT

it doesnt matter how much money they have. these people are just trying to get as much money as they can to supply their pathetic lives

Copyright © 2001-2012 Softpedia. Contact/Tip us at

WindowsGamesDriversMacLinuxScriptsMobileHandheldNews

SUBMIT PROGRAM   |   ADVERTISE   |   GET HELP   |   SEND US FEEDBACK   |   RSS FEEDS   |   UPDATE YOUR SOFTWARE   |   ROMANIAN FORUM