Apple is being ordered to pay $600,000 in damages to a couple in Canadaafter an iPhone 6 allegedly burned down their farmhouse and forced them to close their business.
Cathy and Ian Finley say a fire destroyed their home in October 2016, leading the couple to close the farm they used for children's camps and sustainable farming trips.
While the cause of the fire is not entirely clear, firefighters blamed the iPhone 6, which was charging in the living room at the time of the incident. Firefighters believe the device overheated and ignited the chair, potentially starting a fire in the room and then spreading throughout the house.
“I was having problems with my phone,” Cathy Finley said, according to the source. The woman says she then went outside to feed the goats, only to later see smoke billowing from the house.
"I saw smoke. When I got within two meters of the house I realized what was happening. I couldn't get any closer. My phone was at home so I ran to call the fire department from the neighbor's house."
The business was already insured and the couple received $600,000 in damages after the incident, although not all expenses were covered. Now the couple is asking Apple to pay an additional $600,000 in damages because they believe it was the company's phone that set their home on fire
While Apple has not issued a statement regarding this case, the couple says the company is already working with the insurance company, but talks are progressing at a very slow pace. Apple wants to examine the phone itself, even though an in-depth analysis by a private company.
The case could last up to five years if Apple is unwilling to pay, and the Finleys hope the insurer and the tech giant can work together more effectively to address their problem.
