In a significant development in our firm’s lawsuit against Apple over its handling of AppleCare+ charges, a federal judge in the Northern District of California denied Apple’s attempt to dismiss the case, allowing key claims to move forward- including breach of contract, conversion, and civil theft under California law.
The Issue
Our clients allege that Apple continued charging customers for AppleCare+ after they had traded in their devices, despite Apple’s own terms stating that a trade-in constitutes cancellation of coverage. In many cases, customers—some of whom were unknowingly paying for years—were charged for service on devices they no longer owned, and which Apple itself had in its possession.
The lawsuit seeks to hold Apple accountable for this deceptive billing practice and recover damages for affected consumers nationwide.
What the Court Said
In an opinion dated July 31, 2025, the Court ruled that the plaintiffs had adequately alleged that:
- Apple breached its own contract by continuing to bill for AppleCare+ after device trade-ins,
- Apple wrongfully retained payments for a service that could no longer be sued — potentially constituting conversion and
- Apple’s actions may support a claim for civil theft, given allegations of knowing retention of funds after cancellation should have occurred.
Why It Matters
This ruling is an important milestone in our ongoing effort to hold Apple accountable for unfair billing practices that have impacted potentially thousands of AppleCare+ subscribers. With the Court’s permission to proceed, our team will now begin discovery and continue preparing the case for class certification and ultimately trial.
What’s Next
If you believe you’ve been improperly charged by Apple for AppleCare+ after returning or trading in your device, you may have a claim. Contact the Block Firm to learn more.
