The Montreal Gazette is reporting that following two class action lawsuits, Apple Canada Inc., is now offering $45 credits to Canadian residents who had purchased a first, second or third generation iPod on or before June 24, 2004. The settlement, including legal fees, is the result of two Canadian iPod owner’s lawsuit claiming that the rechargeable battery life in the second year of use would burn out after 3 hours, contrary to the 8 hours advertised by Apple.
Although the initial suit had been denied by the Quebec Superior court, a second suit shortly following it had been approved. The deal is et to be finalized on May 26 in Montreal and by June 20 in Toronto. As many as 80,00 Canadian residents may be eligible for the $45 credit, leaving apple with a $3.6 mil tab to pick up.
Yet the $45 offer is drastically less than the Montreal plaintiff had sought out. He had initially asked for $133.77 for a replacement battery, plus shipping/handling, $50 for the inconvenience, and $400 in ‘exemplary damages’. A bit excessive, eh?
