Fed up with the iPhone 4's reception issues as well as a lack of support, a couple of early adopters filed a class action lawsuit in Maryland yesterday against Apple and AT&T. The suit focuses on the antenna design flaw that weakens signals and drops calls when a user's hand touches the small gap in the bezel on the left side of the phone. The various claims made in the case are listed below:

  • General Negligence (Apple and AT&T)
  • Defect in Design, Manufacture, and Assembly (Apple)
  • Breach of Express Warranty (Apple)
  • Breach of Implied Warranty for Merchantability (Apple and AT&T)
  • Breach of Implied Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose (Apple and AT&T)
  • Deceptive Trade Practices (Apple and AT&T)
  • Intentional Misrepresentation (Apple and AT&T)
  • Negligent Misrepresentation (Apple and AT&T)
  • Fraud by Concealment (Apple and AT&T)

Additionally, at least one resident of New Jersey and another of Massachusetts have filed similar independent lawsuits in California. There's no telling how far these cases will make it, as rumors suggest Apple may resolve the issue with a software update. Unfortunately, the company hasn't been especially forthcoming about the problem, based on alleged emails from Steve Jobs.

Some of Jobs' purported messages entirely deny the reception issues, while others imply that Apple is working on a solution. In the meantime, those affected can use a protective shell for the iPhone 4, which should prevent you from touching the problem area - or you can simply hold the phone differently.