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Canon Named in Class Action Suit

Company Ignored Defect in Digital Cameras, Suit Charges

September 13, 2005

Canon • Cameras • "e18" Error • Printers & Scanners • "Worldwide" Warranty • Rebates --- News • Canon Class Action Denied • Canon Leaves Camera Customers in the Dark • Canon Addresses Some Camera Problems But Not Others • Class Action Suit Charges Canon Ignored e18 Error

A class action suit charges that Canon Inc. has sold digital cameras with a serious defect that renders the camera inoperable. The so-called "e18" error occurs when the lens sticks and will not move in or out.

"We have reviewed numerous complaints from consumers who gotten the brush-off from Canon," said attorney Richard Doherty of Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, a Chicago law firm.

"Canon has refused to stand behind the cameras, and offers consumers who paid approximately $400 for what they thought was a high-quality digital camera the option of a repair costing at least $150 or the opportunity to purchase a refurbished, used camera for $175," Doherty said.

One disgruntled consumer, Bruce of Farmingville NY, was taking photos in Australia when his the lens locked up on one of his Canon Powershot cameras. "I called up Canon at $2 per minute and they said there was nothing they could do while I was away and I should but disposables instead (1440 pictures?). I told the man he was crazy," he said in a complaint to ConsumerAffairs.com.

"I received back an email and letter stating that they opened the camera up, found some sticky substance inside and they were voiding the warranty. They said it waould cost me $195.75 to fix the camera," Bruce said.

The class action suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. It was assigned to Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum, who presided over Martha Stewart's trial and sentenced her to five months in prison and five months of home detention on charges of lying to federal investigators.

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