Frequently Asked Questions

Digital and Check Payment Questions

  1. What is the lawsuit about?

    The name of the lawsuit is Maldonado v. Apple Inc., et al., and it is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 3:16-cv-04067-WHO). Plaintiffs’ claims arise out of two extended service plans offered by Apple Inc.: AppleCare+ and its predecessor AppleCare Protection Plan.

    The terms and conditions for AppleCare Protection Plan and AppleCare+ provided that when a customer sought service for a covered iPhone or iPad due to a hardware defect or accidental damage, Apple Inc. would either repair the device or replace it with a device that was either “new or equivalent to new in performance and reliability.” One of the types of replacements customers can receive under AppleCare Protection Plan and AppleCare+ is a remanufactured iPhone or iPad. Plaintiffs allege that remanufactured devices are not “equivalent to new in performance and reliability” and assert claims against Defendants for breach of contract, alleged violations of the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act and Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and alleged violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200.

    You can read the operative Complaint, Final Approval Order and Judgement on the Documents page of this website.

    Back To Top
  2. What is Defendants’ response?

    Defendants deny that they did anything wrong. The Court has not found that Defendants engaged in any wrongdoing. Defendants' Answer to the operative Complaint is available on the Documents page of this website.

    Back To Top
  3. What is a class action and who is involved?

    In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called the “plaintiffs” sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims, called the “class members.” In certifying a class, the court appoints the plaintiffs to serve as “class representatives.” For the purposes of a class action lawsuit, one court will resolve the issues for all class members, except for those people who properly exclude themselves from the lawsuit, as described in FAQ 12 below.

    Back To Top
  4. Why is there a Settlement?

    The Court did not decide in favor of Plaintiffs or Defendants. Plaintiffs believe they may have won at trial and possibly obtained a greater recovery. Defendants believe the Plaintiffs would not have won at a trial and that Plaintiffs would have recovered nothing against them. Litigation involves risks to both sides, and Plaintiffs and Defendants have agreed to the Settlement. The Settlement requires Defendants to pay money (as set forth in the Settlement Agreement). Plaintiffs and their attorneys believe the Settlement is in the best interest of all Class Members.

    Back To Top
  5. Am I part of the Class?

    The Court has decided that you are a member of the Class if you purchased AppleCare or AppleCare+, either directly or through the iPhone Upgrade Program, on or after July 20, 2012, and received a remanufactured replacement Device on or before September 30, 2021, unless you submit a valid and timely request to be excluded.

    Back To Top
  6. Are there exceptions to being included in the Class?

    Yes. The Class excludes Class Counsel; any employees of Class Counsel; any officers, directors, or employees of Defendants’ and Defendants’ counsel; and the judge presiding over this case (as well as members of his or her immediate family and staff). The Class will also exclude anyone who properly requests to be excluded (see FAQ 12).

    Back To Top
  7. I’m still not sure if I’m a Class Member. What do I do?

    If you are still not sure whether you are included in the Class, you can get free help by calling or writing to the lawyer in this case at the phone number or address listed in FAQ 16.

    Back To Top
  8. What does the Settlement provide?

    If the Settlement is approved, Apple will pay $95,000,000. This Settlement would resolve all Class Members’ claims against the Defendants for the Released Claims (as defined in the Settlement Agreement).

    Back To Top
  9. What is the Settlement Fund being used for?

    No money has been distributed at this time. A portion of the Settlement Proceeds has been and will be used by the Settlement Administrator for notice and administration costs. Additionally, Class Counsel requested that the Court award attorney’s fees and permit the reimbursement of certain litigation costs and expenses. Class Counsel will not seek more than 30% of the Settlement Fund as attorney’s fees, or $28.5 million. Class Counsel will request service awards of up to $12,500 for one Class Representative and up to $15,000 for the other. All Settlement funds that remain after payment of the Court-ordered attorney’s fees, costs, and litigation expenses will be distributed to Class Members on a pro rata basis, based on the number of devices within the Class for each Class Member, as ordered by the Court. The Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Expenses and Service Awards is available on the Documents page of this website.

    Back To Top
  10. How do I stay in the Class?

    If you were not within the scope of the prior notice program, you must have decided whether to stay in the Class or ask to be excluded on or before March 4, 2022. You do not have to do anything to stay in the Class. By doing nothing, you will get your share of the Settlement as outlined above. By staying in the Class, you give up your right to sue or continue to sue Defendants as part of any other lawsuit about the same legal claims in this lawsuit. By staying in the Class, you will also be legally bound by all of the orders the Court issues and the judgment the Court makes in this lawsuit.

    Back To Top
  11. How do I exclude myself from the Class?

    If you were not within the scope of the prior notice program, you must have decided whether to stay in the Class or ask to be excluded on or before March 4, 2022. If you did not previously receive notice (because you received a remanufactured replacement iPad or iPhone between October 1, 2019, and September 30, 2021) and you do not want to be a member of the Class.

    You could also have opted out by sending a letter by mail to the Class Action Administrator. The exclusion letter needed to include:

    1. Your full name, address, and email;
    2. The name of this case: Maldonado v. Apple Inc., et al., Case No. 3:16-cv-04067-WHO; and
    3. A clear statement that you want to be excluded from the Class.

    The exclusion letter or form needed to be signed and dated, and postmarked no later than March 4, 2022. Exclusion letters needed to be mailed to:

    Maldonado v. Apple
    P.O. Box 6659
    Portland OR 97228-6659

    If you previously received a notice when the Class was certified (because you received a remanufactured replacement iPhone or iPad between July 20, 2012, and September 30, 2019), you were already given the opportunity to exclude yourself and that deadline has expired. If you fall within the Certified Class definition, you are part of the Class.

    Back To Top
  12. What happens if I exclude myself from the Class?

    If you have excluded yourself from the Class, you won’t get any money or benefits from this lawsuit, if any are awarded. By excluding yourself, however, you will retain any right you may have to sue Defendants about the same claims alleged in this lawsuit at your own expense.

    Back To Top
  13. How do I tell the Court that I don't like the Settlement?

    If you are a member of the Class and did not exclude yourself from the Settlement, you could have asked the Court to deny approval by filing an objection. You couldn’t ask the Court to order a different settlement; the Court could only approve or reject the Settlement. If the Court had denied approval, no settlement payments would be sent out and the lawsuit would have continued. If that is what you wanted to happen, you needed to object. The deadline to object was on March 4, 2022.

    Any objection to the proposed Settlement needed to state in writing that you object to the Settlement with Defendants and the reasons why you object to the Settlement. Objections needed to include your full name, current mailing address, and email address. Your objection also needed to be signed. If you filed a timely written objection, you may have, but were not required to, appear at the Final Fairness Hearing, either in person or through your own attorney. If you appeared through your own attorney, you are responsible for hiring and paying that attorney. All written objections and supporting papers were required to (a) clearly identify the case name and number (Maldonado et al. v. Apple Inc. et al., Case No. 3:16-cv-04067-WHO); (b) be submitted to the Court, either by mailing them to Office of the Clerk, United States District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, or by filing them in person at any location of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; and (c) be postmarked or filed on or before March 4, 2022.

    Back To Top
  14. What is the difference between excluding myself and objecting?

    Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you do not exclude yourself from the Class. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Class or the lawsuit. If you exclude yourself, you have no standing to object because the Settlement no longer affects you. The deadline to object or request exclusion was on March 4, 2022.

    Back To Top
  15. As a Class Member, who represents me in this case?

    The Court has appointed Plaintiffs Justin Carter and Vicky Maldonado as Class Representative and the following lawyer to represent you and other Class members:

    Steve W. Berman
    HAGENS BERMAN SOBOL SHAPIRO LLP
    1301 Second Avenue, Suite 2000
    Seattle, WA 98101

    This lawyer is called “Class Counsel.” You may contact Class Counsel by writing to the address above, sending an email to applecare@hbsslaw.com, or calling 1-206-623-7292.

    Back To Top
  16. How will the lawyers be compensated? Will the Class Representatives receive any money?

    At the Final Fairness Hearing, Class Counsel asked the Court for attorney’s fees of $27,550,000.00, which is less than 30% of the Settlement Funds, based on their services in this litigation. They also asked to be reimbursed for $1,397,165.53 in current and ongoing litigation expenses, and for service awards of up to $12,500 for one Class Representative and up to $15,000 for the other. The Court has awarded Class Counsel $26,876,027.50 in attorneys’ fees and $1,397,165.53 in litigation expenses. The attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses that the Court orders, plus the costs to administer the Settlement, will come out of the Settlement Fund. The Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, Expenses and Service Awards is available on the Documents page of this website.

    Back To Top
  17. Should I get my own lawyer?

    You do not need to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel is working on your behalf. But if you want your own lawyer, you will have to pay that lawyer. If you hire your own lawyer, you could have asked them to appear in Court for you if you wanted someone other than Class Counsel to speak for you.

    Back To Top
  18. When and where will the Court decide on whether to approve the Settlement?

    The Court held the Final Fairness Hearing on April 27, 2022, at 2:00 p.m., at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Courtroom 2 – Floor 17, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. At this hearing, the Court considered whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there had been objections, the Court would have considered them. After the hearing, on April 29, 2022, the Court issued a Final Approval Order granting approval to the Settlement. The Final Approval Order is available on the Documents page of this website.

    Back To Top
  19. Do I have to come to the Hearing?

    You did not need to attend the hearing. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. If you sent an objection, you did not have to come to court to talk about it. As long as you mailed your written objection on time, the Court considered it. You may have also paid for your own lawyer to attend, but it was not necessary. You or your own lawyer were welcome to come at your own expense.

    Back To Top
  20. May I speak at the Hearing?

    You may have asked to speak at the Final Fairness Hearing that occurred on March 4, 2022. To do so, you must have sent a letter saying that it is your “Notice of Intention to Appear in Maldonado et al. v. Apple Inc. et al.” It needed to include your name, current mailing address, telephone number, and signature. Your Notice of Intention to Appear must be have been postmarked by March 4, 2022, and it must have been sent to the Clerk of the Court and Class Counsel. The address for the Clerk of the Court is Office of the Clerk, United States District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. The address for Class Counsel is provided in FAQ 16 above. You cannot ask to speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself from the Class.

    Back To Top
  21. How do I get more information?

    If you have any questions, you may contact Class Counsel listed above or the Settlement Administrator at 888-490-0557. Certain case documents are available for your review on the Documents page of this website.

    Complete copies of public pleadings, Court rulings, and other filings are available for review by accessing the Court docket in this case, for a fee, through the Court’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov, or by visiting the Clerk’s office. The address is United States District Court, San Francisco Courthouse, Courtroom 2 - 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. The Honorable William H. Orrick is overseeing the Action.

    Please do not contact the Judge, Defendants, or Defendants’ attorneys regarding this settlement or the claim process.

    Back To Top

Digital and Check Payment Questions

  1. Can I receive a paper check instead of a digital payment?

    Claiming your award digitally is the fastest way to receive your payment. However, if you would prefer to receive a check, please write to the address below to request a check. Physical check requests cannot be sent or processed via email. For any check request, include your name, the email address your EpiqPay email was sent to, and your complete mailing address. If you need to update the name to be printed on the check, please note that in your request and please make sure to provide a working email address in case further follow up is needed on your request. Note that check requests can take 4 - 6 weeks to process. In order to ensure that you will receive your check before payments become void on May 15, 2024, the final date to request a physical check is April 15, 2024.

    Maldonado v. Apple
    P.O. Box 6659
    Portland OR 97228-6659

    Back To Top
  2. I made my preferred payment option selection, but haven’t heard anything, what should I do?

    After you make your payment selection from the EpiqPay payment wall, you will receive a small number of interim notifications from our payment partner rewards@tremendous.com letting you know your payment is ‘in process’, and eventually you will receive a link to your payment card, if you chose that as your option, or the funds will be deposited directly to your account. Due to variability in individual user email account security settings, emails from Tremendous can sometimes go to junk or SPAM folders. Please search your inbox for emails from rewards@tremendous.com. If you find any follow up emails there, move them to your inbox and/or mark the email as from a ‘trusted sender’, so that future Tremendous emails regarding this settlement do not end up in those folders.

    Back To Top
  3. I ‘Unsubscribed’ or ‘Marked Email as Phishing’, what can I do now?

    We are unable to re-send the email that was originally sent to you, if you have unsubscribed/marked the email as phishing. If you would still like to receive your payment, please request physical reissue of your payment via check using the check request instructions in FAQ 29. Note that reissue requests can take 4-6 weeks to process. In order to ensure that you will receive your check before payments become void, the final date to request a physical check is April 15, 2024.

    Back To Top
  4. I misplaced or deleted my EpiqPay payment email, what can I do now?

    If you have lost or misplaced your digital payment email, you will need to request that a payment be sent to you via check. Please write to the address below to request a check. Include your name, email address, and complete address for any check request. If you need to update the name to be printed on the check, please note that in your request and please make sure to provide a working email address in case further follow up is needed on your request. Note that check requests can take 4 - 6 weeks to process. In order to ensure that you will receive your check before payments become void on May 15, 2024, the final date to request a physical check is April 15, 2024.

    Maldonado v. Apple
    P.O. Box 6659
    Portland OR 97228-6659

    Back To Top
  5. When will I receive my ACH deposit?

    If you have successfully selected to receive an ACH payment, please note that after receiving a confirmation of payment email, it may take 2-4 business days for the funds to appear in your account. If you still do not see the funds in your account after this time period, please contact our payment partner, Tremendous, at help@tremendous.com.

    Back To Top
  6. Can I change my election?

    Payment options such as ACH or Digital Mastercard require that you provide one or two pieces of information and submit that information to claim your payment. Once you have ‘clicked’ the ‘Redeem’ button submitting the requested information, you cannot change your election, and any further communications about the selected option will be sent to the same email address to which the EpiqPay payment notifications were sent. If you have not ‘Redeemed’ your payment or already submitted any additional requested information, you can go back to the payment option tile page and make a different selection.

    Back To Top
  7. Can I update the name listed on my physical check?

    If you need to update the name printed on your check, please send a reissue request in writing to the address below. Your request must include the Tracking Number on the check you received, your name as printed on the check, the name you would like the check to be reissued to, and your current address. In your request, please make sure to also provide a working email address in case further follow up is needed for your request. Note that check reissue requests can take 4 - 6 weeks to process. In order to ensure that you will receive your check before payments become void on May 15, 2024, the final date to request a physical check is April 15, 2024.

    Maldonado v. Apple
    P.O. Box 6659
    Portland OR 97228-6659

    Back To Top
  8. What should I do if I have not received a digital payment or check, but would like to check the status of my payment to determine if a payment was sent to an older email account or address?

    If your email or physical address recently changed, please write to the address below to check the status of your payment. To facilitate researching your inquiry, all payment eligibility and status requests must be in writing and contain the following information: your full name, your current email address, your full mailing address, and any email or physical addresses you may have recently used. If the Settlement Administrator determines your payment was sent to an older email or physical address, a new check will be issued to you at the current physical address you provide in your status inquiry. Please allow 4 - 6 weeks to process your request.

    Maldonado v. Apple
    P.O. Box 6659
    Portland OR 97228-6659

    Back To Top