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Wiimote Straps Result in Class Action Suit

Posted by Zonk on from the sigh dept.

Kotaku reports the news that problems with breaking Wiimote straps has resulted in a class action lawsuit against Nintendo. From the press release about the suit: "Green Welling LLP filed a nationwide class action lawsuit on behalf of the owners of the Nintendo Wii against Nintendo of America, Inc., in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The class action lawsuit arose as result of the defective nature of the Nintendo Wii. In particular, the Nintendo Wii game console includes a remote and a wrist strap for the remote. Owners of the Nintendo Wii reported that when they used the Nintendo remote and wrist strap, as instructed by the material that accompanied the Wii console, the wrist strap broke and caused the remote to leave the user's hand. Nintendo's failure to include a remote that is free from defects is in breach of Nintendo's own product warranty."

5 of 812 comments (clear)

  1. Re:If only stupidity were illegal by silentounce · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Ok, I realize that this is a frivolous lawsuit but your quote is interesting. Note, "original version of the wrist-strap" followed by "newer version of the strap". If there was nothing wrong with the first strap then why did they correct it. The phrasing of that quote makes it seem like they were distributing the "new" strap before reports of the "old" strap breaking came in. If Nintendo knew that the original straps were defective, or not as strong and they shipped the product anyway. Well, that is negligence.

    --
    There are many tongues to talk, and but few heads to think. -Victor Hugo
  2. Re:If only stupidity were illegal by abscissa · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    But was it foreseeable that people would use the wiimote in such a way? If so, Nintendo could have a problem.

    Extreme case: a company mails out guns to every person in America with instructions: NEVER TOUCH, DO NOT USE, DO NOT LOAD WITH LIVE AMMUNITION, etc. and people use them and kill each other. Very foreseeable.

  3. Re:Not quite right by Cederic · · Score: 0, Flamebait


    lawyers have one of the highest burnout rate, did you know ?

    Good.

    Sorry, you expect fucking sympathy?

  4. No-Win-No-Fee Culture... Great. by lattyware · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    I think it's great.

    • Stupid person spills coffee in crotch.
    • Stupid person looses the ability to reproduce.
    • Stupid people die out.

    Win. Darwin 1 - 0 Laywers

    But seriously, It's coffee, it's damn hot. You should be able to work out it'll hurt you if you chuck it on yourself. As for the Wii-motes, same thing applies. If you throw it, you are a dumbass, The strap is there if you are holding it and drop it, not so you can throw it.

    --
    -- Lattyware (www.lattyware.co.uk)
  5. Sue SONY!! by ponos · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I wonder, If it was the PS3 that had a similar problem, would people defend it in the same way? Nintendo seems to have an ungodly amount of good karma. Admittedly, you'd have to be an idiot to throw your remote at the TV, but then again failure of the material seems to be a real issue.

    For what it's worth, the lawsuit doesn't sound ridiculous to me, especially compared to the "hot coffee" warning on starbuck and macdonalds cups (THAT does make me laugh!).

    PS3=T3h r0x0rz, while Wii=T3h Sux0rZ