In March 2021, a class action was commenced in Quebec against Apple Canada Inc. and Apple Inc. (collectively “Defendants” or “Apple”) alleging that the “butterfly” keyboard mechanism in certain MacBook laptops is defective, and can result in characters repeating unexpectedly; letters or characters not appearing; and/or the keys feeling “sticky” or not responding in a consistent manner (the “Class Action”). Apple denies all of the allegations made in Class Action, denies that any MacBooks are defective, and denies that Apple did anything improper or unlawful.
TopThe class is defined as follows:
Any physical or legal person who lives in / is domiciled in the Province of Quebec and who purchased, owns, or owned, other than for resale, a MacBook laptop sold between 2015 and 2019 equipped with a “Butterfly” keyboard (“Computer”) -or- any physical or legal person who lives in / is domiciled elsewhere but who purchased, other than for resale, such a Computer in the Province of Quebec.
(“Class” or “Class Members”)
TopComputer means any of the following Apple computer models:
The parties to this class action have reached a proposed settlement (the “Settlement Agreement”), subject to obtaining the approval of the Superior Court of Québec. The Settlement Agreement provides that the Defendants will pay a total of $6,000,000.00 CAD (the “Settlement Fund”), which includes the payment of Class Counsel fees of up to 30% of this amount ($1,800,000.00 CAD) plus taxes and disbursements, and also includes all Administration Expenses.
In return for the Settlement Fund, Defendants will receive a release from all Class Members and a declaration of settlement out of court of the Class Action.
The settlement is a compromise of disputed claims and is not an admission of liability, wrongdoing or fault on the part of Defendants.
TopThe Settlement Agreement covers Topcase Replacements, which refers to the replacement of the full keyboard module (including the battery, track pad, speakers, top case, and keyboard), and Keycap Replacements, which refers to the replacement of one or more keycaps on a keyboard and does not involve replacement of the full keyboard module. Either repair must have been performed by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
The following Class Members will be entitled to compensation under the Settlement Agreement:
NOTE: Class Members can receive compensation only once per Computer; but any Class Member may make additional claims in the event they purchased multiple Computers that qualify for payment.
TopBefore the Settlement Agreement can be implemented, it must be approved by the Court.
A Settlement Approval Hearing before the Superior Court of Québec will be held on October 31 at 9:30 a.m., at the Montréal courthouse located at 1, Notre-Dame East Street, Montréal, Québec, in room 15.08, or via a TEAMS link. This date may be subject to adjournment by the Court without further publication of notice to the Class Members, other than such notice which will be posted on Class Counsel’s website www.lexgroup.ca or on this Settlement Website.
TopIf you wish to be included in the Class Action, you have nothing to do and nothing to pay.
TopIf you do not wish to participate in this class action:
If you are a member and you wish to exclude yourself from the Class Action, you will not be entitled to participate further in the Class Action, or to share in the distribution of funds received as a result of the Settlement Agreement. To exclude yourself, you must send a opt out notice which must be delivered to the Clerk of the Superior Court of Quebec by October 23, 2023, at the following address:
Clerk of the Superior Court of Quebec
Palais de Justice de Montréal
(Simard vs. Canada Apple Inc. et al., CSM no 500-06-001140-215)
1 Notre-Dame Street East, Room 1.120
Montréal, Québec H2Y 1B5
With a further copy sent by email to Class Counsel at the following address: [email protected]. You must state that you wish to exclude yourself from the class action Simard v. Apple Canada Inc. et al. (case number N° 500-06-001140-215).
TopThe attorneys representing the Class (“Class Counsel”) are the firm of Lex Group Inc., which can be contacted at [email protected].
TopIn addition to seeking the Court’s approval of the Settlement Fund pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Class Counsel Lex Group Inc. will seek the approval of its legal fees and disbursements (the “Class Counsel Fees”). The Class Counsel Fees will be paid by Apple from the Settlement Fund described above. Class Members will therefore not be asked to support or pay for any portion of the Class Counsel Fees. You have nothing to pay.
TopAs a Class Member, you have a right to object to or comment on the Settlement.
If you wish to comment on, or make objection to, the approval by the Court of the Settlement Agreement, you must provide notice in writing of your intention to do so. Any such notice must be submitted to the Claims Administrator (at the address listed below) no later than October 23, 2023. The Claims Administrator will forward all such submissions to the Court, Class Counsel, and to Counsel for Defendants. You may attend at the Settlement Approval Hearing whether or not you deliver an objection. You have no obligation to attend the hearing.
A written objection must include all of the following information:
(a) The objector's name, address, telephone number(s), fax number (where applicable) and email address(es);
(b) A brief statement outlining the nature of, and reason for, the objection; and
(c) A statement as to whether the objector intends to appear at the Settlement Approval Hearing in person or by legal counsel and, if by legal counsel, the name, address, telephone number, fax number and email address of such legal counsel.
Please note that the Court cannot change the terms of the Settlement Agreement. Any objections will be used by the Court to consider whether to approve the Settlement Agreement or not.
Class Members who do not oppose the proposed Settlement Agreement have nothing to pay and do not need to appear at any hearing or take any other action to indicate their desire to support the proposed Settlement Agreement.
If the settlement is approved, another notice to Class Members will be sent explaining the method of distributing the settlement funds and how to make a claim to receive compensation from the Settlement Agreement.
TopA copy of the Settlement Agreement and other relevant Judgments, notices or proceedings may be found on this Settlement Website under the Documents tab. For additional information about the settlement please contact the Claims Administrator toll-free at 1-866-573-1796.
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