According to the lawsuit, in 2016, Xai Thao’s had “failed”, which in turn caused a fire in her home in New Richmond, a small city on the outskirts of Wisconsin in St. Croix County. As a result of this fire, Thao had apparently suffered more than $75,000 in damages. Based on the investigation, it seemed that an internal failure in the iPhone 4S belonging to Thao was the reason for the phone catching on fire.
The lawsuit is alleging that the iPhone 4S was defective when sold to Thao, and that Apple was negligent for designing, manufacturing, and placing the device in circulation. The filing reads (in part), “As a direct and proximate result of Apple’s negligence in the design, manufacture, and/or sale of the iPhone, Thao sustained damage to her personal property.”
However it has been noted that the iPhone 4S was purchased in 2014, but whether or not it was purchased directly from Apple or from an authorized retailer is unknown.