California Appeals Court Revives Consumer Lawsuit Against Apple Over Repair Restrictions

A three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeals reversed a Santa Clara Superior Court ruling that had dismissed a consumer lawsuit against Apple. Plaintiffs Jesse Granato and Janice Zarad, who paid Apple for cracked-screen repairs in 2021, argue the company’s policy of restricting parts, tools, manuals and warranty coverage to authorized shops inflates repair costs and encourages device replacement. Acting presiding Associate Justice Cynthia Lie wrote that the alleged conduct substantially harms consumers and that the plaintiffs’ pleadings meet the threshold for an unfair competition claim.

The court also considered Apple’s alleged violation of the 2024 Right to Repair Act, noting that the law’s later enactment suggests the conduct was unfair even before it became statutory. While the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claim was deemed insufficiently detailed, the panel emphasized that Apple’s refusal to service phones repaired elsewhere conflicts with the law’s spirit. The case has been remanded for further proceedings in the lower court. Neither side commented on the ruling.