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Google Smartwatch Lawsuit Overview

Published May 15, 2022 · Archived information

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News

Google is facing a class-action lawsuit over its line of Fitbit smartwatch devices. The plaintiffs, who are represented by a law firm, say that Google knew about a defect in the watches that caused them to overheat and burn users. They allege that Google violated state and federal consumer protection laws by selling the watches without disclosing the defect.

At least seven people have filed lawsuits against Google over the defective smartwatches, according to court documents. The plaintiffs are seeking damages, refunds, and attorneys’ fees. Google has not yet responded to the lawsuits.

According to court documents, all Fitbit smartwatches and trackers have a propensity to overheat and cause burns and/or fire hazards.

Fitbit has been called out for attempting to shift the blame for issues on “consumer hygiene” in situations where incidents have been reported, and that the firm has not “adequately compensated Ionic owners.”

Fitbit Models Being Recalled

Google is recalling its line of Fitbit smartwatches due to a defect that causes the devices to overheat and burn users. If you have purchased one of the following Google smartwatches, you may be eligible for compensation:

  • Fitbit Versa, Versa Light, Versa 2, Versa 3
  • Charge 4
  • Ionic
  • Sense
  • Alta HR
  • Inspire, Inspire HR, Inspire 2
  • Blaze

As of May 4th, 2022, Google has only recalled 1.7 million Fitbit Ionic smartwatches on March 2nd after receiving over 100 reports of battery overheating and 78 persons burned in the US. Consumers were warned to “immediately stop using” the recalled watch.

Google Smartwatch Lawsuit

The class-action lawsuit alleges that Google knew about the defect and failed to disclose it to consumers. Google has denied the allegations. If you have purchased a Google smartwatch, you may be eligible for compensation.

Fitbit Class Action Lawsuit

In court filings reported by Bloomberg, Fitbit customers Jenny Houtchens and Samantha Ramirez have accused Google of a “faulty design” in its previous recall, which was insufficient because “the same defect exists across all” Fitbit smartwatches. The lawsuit was filed on Friday in the Northern District of California US District Court.

Houtchens from California is suing Fitbit for allegedly burning their four-year-old daughter’s wrist with one of its watches with the same defect. The women’s suit cited social media posts and photographs of individuals who said they had been burned by wearing a Fitbit to back up their allegations.

Alleged Burn Hazards & Potential Fire Hazard

The lawsuit alleges that Google is aware of the “alleged burn hazards” because it has received “hundreds of complaints from consumers” and “dozens of news articles” about the issue. Google has not responded to the lawsuit.

Not Fitbit’s First Recall

The Ionic wasn’t the first Fitbit gadget to come under fire for injuring customers. In 2014, sales of the Fitbit Force smartwatch were halted and a million units were recalled after reports emerged claiming that they caused skin irritation.

Not only has Fitbit been hit with claims over product safety, but Apple and other companies have, as well. In 2016, Apple was subjected to a class-action lawsuit alleging that an Apple Watch flaw caused owners’ screens to crash and expose “razor-sharp edges.”

Contact Us For Help

Have you been injured by a Google smartwatch? If so, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts for help. We can provide free consultations and will never ask for money. You can contact ClaimsMatch by emailing us at hello@claimsmatch.co.