U.S. District Judge Denise Cote dismissed the lawsuit, accusing Apple of misleading users about the water-resistance of its devices.
According to Judge Cote, the three plaintiffs claimed that Apple’s advertising could mislead users. However, they did not provide evidence of iPhone damage caused by “liquid contact,” which Apple promised it could withstand.
The judge also found no evidence of fraud, citing a lack of evidence that Apple wanted to exaggerate its claims about waterproofing or that the plaintiffs relied on fraudulent marketing statements when purchasing their iPhones.
In its advertisement, Apple claimed the iPhone could withstand damage if exposed to water, including the position that some models could withstand depths of four metres for 30 minutes.
However, the plaintiffs argued that the company’s “false and misleading” misrepresentation let it charge twice as much for its devices compared to other smartphones.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Spencer Sheehan noted his client’s disappointment at the ruling and said no decision had yet been made to appeal.