Samsung Hit With Second Federal Class-Action Complaint Over Galaxy Note7

Three consumers in California, Nevada and Pennsylvania hit Samsung with the second known federal class-action complaint over the Galaxy Note7. In the first complaint, an Illinois resident alleged Samsung’s negligence caused him to suffer serious burns when his recharging Note7 exploded overnight (see 1610030052). Plaintiffs in the new complaint (in Pacer), filed Sunday in U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey, make no such injury claims. Instead, they allege they had to wait three weeks or more for replacement Note7s to arrive in stores, while continuing to incur “monthly device and plan charges associated with their Note7s” that Samsung didn't offer to reimburse as part of the recall. Samsung, in its Oct. 13 expanded recall notice, offered a variety of financial consolations to Note7 owners, including up to a $100 “bill credit” from a carrier or retailer to those who exchange their Note7 for another Samsung smartphone as a "token of appreciation" for their loyalty and inconvenience. Samsung decided Oct. 11 to permanently scrap the Note7 for fear even the batteries in its replacement phones could be prone to overheating or fire (see 1610110042). Samsung doesn't comment on pending litigation, a spokeswoman emailed us Tuesday on the latest complaint.