A British Columbia man has filed a lawsuit against Apple Canada after suffering severe burns when his iPhone unexpectedly caught fire in the middle of the night, according to documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court.
The Terrifying Nighttime Incident
Avtar Singh purchased an iPhone 13 Pro from the Apple store in Surrey in September 2023. Just six weeks later, on October 25, 2023, his routine phone charging turned into a nightmare scenario.
According to the legal claim, Singh woke from a sound sleep to discover his bedroom filled with smoke and his left leg in severe pain. The lawsuit states that his burnt iPhone was stuck to his leg and actively releasing some sort of gas during the incident.
Severe Injuries and Legal Allegations
The consequences of the iPhone fire were substantial. Singh suffered a severe burn to his left leg that developed an infection and caused swelling from his knee to his foot.
The legal claim details that the injuries resulted in difficulty standing and walking, persistent pain, and psychological distress including depressive thoughts, anxiety, and stress.
The lawsuit alleges Apple and its manufacturers were negligent in addressing known risks. Specifically, the claim states the iPhone had a tendency to overheat, explode, and/or release gas unexpectedly without manual input from the user.
Broader Safety Implications
The Surrey Fire Service provided important safety recommendations regarding lithium-ion batteries in response to the incident. Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Siggs emphasized that consumers should:
- Unplug chargers when devices are fully charged
- Avoid charging devices while sleeping or away from home
- Immediately stop using devices that become hot, change color, or emit odors
Singh is seeking damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent physical disability, loss of earnings, and special damages. Neither Singh's lawyer nor Apple Canada representatives responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing legal proceedings.
