Customers accusing Apple of engaging in monopolistic behavior in the smartphone market are suing the company in large numbers as a result of a comprehensive antitrust lawsuit that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and 15 states filed last week. According to Reuters, plaintiffs filed at least three potential class-action lawsuits in federal courts in California and New Jersey since Friday.
Apple is accused of inflating prices
These cases, filed by owners of iPhones, allege that Apple engaged in anti-competitive behavior to artificially boost the prices of its goods.
The lawsuits, which seek to represent millions of customers, are a response to the Justice Department’s charges against Apple. They claim that Apple violated US antitrust laws by preventing the development of digital wallets. Messaging apps, and other features that would have encouraged competition in the smartphone market.
Apple has not yet responded to the latest consumer lawsuits, but it has denied the government’s accusations. Attorney Steve Berman. Who is handling one of the new lawsuits, expressed delight with the DOJ’s alignment with their approach and cited his firm’s previous complaint against Apple for claimed anti-competitive actions connected to Pay.
Apple has a history of facing legal challenges pertaining to its commercial operations. Despite Apple’s denials. A judge decided earlier this year that the tech company must address a class-action complaint on behalf of millions of customers who allege it monopolized the market for iPhone apps.
Notably, the legal team behind one of the current cases, Hagens Berman. Has already obtained substantial $550 million settlements from Apple in other matters pertaining to ebook pricing and app store policy.
According to a 2022 study by a professor at the University of Buffalo’s School of Law. Private antitrust class actions can occasionally produce more significant results than government proceedings. Possibly extending the range of wrongdoing, recovery amounts, or defendant involvement.
