Samsung $2.8 Million Settlement
Is your Samsung Galaxy S4 not fast enough? You may be eligible for a class action settlement benefit.
A class action has been filed in California against the makers of Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphones, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Samsung has proposed to settle the same for $2.8 million dollars. It is to pay the claimants who purchased a 16 GB Samsung Galaxy S4 in California between April 1, 2013 and July 31, 2013.
What are the allegations against Samsung?
A lawsuit has been filed by a person who purchased a 16GB Samsung Galaxy S4 in California. Wherein it has been claimed that Samsung installed a booster app that detects any benchmarking app. A benchmarking app is an app that measures how fast the smartphone surfs the internet. It has been alleged that Samsung’s booster app made the smartphone run at higher-than-normal speed when it detected a benchmarking app measuring the speed of the phone.
As per this lawsuit still pending in California, by doing this, Samsung has violated consumer protection laws of California. Now, Samsung denies having done anything wrong. And they still maintain that the lawsuit has no merit but have proposed a settlement to end litigation.
What’s the case title?
Daniel Norcia et al., v. Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC and Samsung Electronics America, Inc., et al. Case No. 3:14-cv-582-JD.
This case is pending in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
Can you make a claim?
- Any person who purchased one or more 16 GB Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone.
- The said purchase must have been made in California.
- The said purchase was made between April 1, 2013 – July 31, 2013.
How much can you get from the settlement?
The estimated settlement benefit is cash payment of up to $10.
Although the person who brought the suit, Mr. Daniel Norcia stands to be given a service award of $7,500 for his efforts to file the lawsuit.
How can you make a claim?
- Visit the settlement website and file a claim there.
- Call the Settlement Administrator at this number (844) 491-5739.
- Or write to the Settlement Administrator, Heffler Claims Group at this address:
Cell Phone Benchmark Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
PO Box 469
Warminster, PA 18974-0469
If you want to read the court documents, you can visit the settlement website here. They also answer frequently asked questions (FAQs).
When can you make a claim?
You can file a claim only until November 9, 2020.
If you fail to file a claim before that, you will not receive any benefit approved by the court. Do not delay.
What kind of information will you need to provide on the claim form?
You will be asked to provide your:
- Name and residential address
- Email address and contact details
- Signature after you affirm that you purchased a 16GB Samsung Galaxy S4 in California.
How will you know if your claim is allowed?
- You will receive an email notice giving you a nine-digit Claim Number.
- Checkout USA Today for notification on the settlement, or
- Log in using your nine-digit Claim Number on the official settlement website to check the status of the claim.
What if you feel that the settlement benefit is too small?
If you think that the settlement amount of $10 is unfair, you can submit an objection to the court. In the said objection, you must state why you think that the settlement benefit proposed is not fair. It can also be argued that the proposed settlement is not reasonable or adequate. Hence you may request the court to deny the settlement.
You must file your objection to the settlement no later than November 23, 2020. The objection must be filed with the court at this address:
Clerk of the Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
450 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
If you are inclined to, you may attend the final approval hearing on January 28, 2021. You may even ask the court to speak and state your objections.
What if I don’t want to accept this settlement and bring my own lawsuit instead?
If you don’t wish to be part of this settlement, you must ask the Court to be excluded from the same. But if you submit a claim, you cannot bring your own suit against Samsung.
If you wish to file your own lawsuit against Samsung, you can do that.
You need to write to the Settlement Administrator and inform them that you want to “opt out” of this settlement. Make sure that this request for exclusion is filed with the Settlement Administrator no later than November 23, 2020.
Where can I get more information on this?
- You can visit the settlement website here.
- You can read this Notice from the court.
