The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has issued an order consolidating 12 putative class actions alleging that Apple Inc.’s iPhone 3G did not perform as fast as promised on AT&T Mobility LLC’s 3G data network.  In re: Apple IPhone 3G Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2045.

Plaintiffs allege that iPhone owners paid extra for the supposedly superior functionality and high-speed data network used by the phone. They further allege that because the phone is typically used for e-mail and on-line activities, many purchasers subscribe to a data plan that uses AT&T’s 3G network. But, they assert, the phone does not function as fast as promised and often performs at slower speeds than other 2G and 3G phones. In the litigation thus far, plaintiffs’ complaints conspicuously seem to omit one critical condition precedent to their causes of action: an allegation that they contacted Apple to seek a repair of the alleged defects or a replacement iPhone 3G under Apple’s one-year limited warranty.

In the order issued last week, the JPML said that centralizing the lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California was appropriate. All actions involve common factual questions arising from the performance of Apple’s iPhone 3G on AT&T’s 3G network. Specifically, the actions share allegations that Apple and, where named, AT&T, misrepresented to the public the speed, strength and performance of the iPhone 3G on AT&T’s 3G network. Centralization under Section 1407 will eliminate duplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings, particularly with respect to class certification; and conserve the resources of the parties, their counsel and the judiciary.

The Northern District of California stands out as an appropriate transferee forum, said the panel. The headquarters of the common defendant, Apple, are located within this district; accordingly, relevant witnesses and documents will likely be found there. Eight actions are already pending in the district. Other cases are in the Southern District of Florida, the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of New York and the Eastern District of Texas.