http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/72016

Best Buy Loses Laptop: Owner Sues... for $54 Million

Don't dismiss Raelyn Campbell (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AkuwxSJKz_b0BR5FSJwdXOWXMJA5/SIG=122d1nuns/**http%3A//redtape.msnbc.com/2008/02/a-lost-laptop-a.html%23posts) as a crackpot. Not yet. Listen to her story, and then decide if she's doing the right thing by asking Best Buy to compensate her to the tune of $54 million for a laptop that went missing when she took it in to Best Buy for repair under the store's own extended warranty.
Like many people, Campbell bought an extended warranty (http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/null/71130;_ylt=Av0c2rOZrmSxkeENsyPf1JeXMJA5) for her laptop when she bought it from Best Buy, and she took advantage of that when the power button broke off after a year. Best Buy accepted the machine for repair and said it would be ready in two to six weeks. But six weeks passed and the computer wasn't ready. After three months of ruthlessly hounding the company, Best Buy finally admitted it couldn't find the machine.
Ultimately, Best Buy offered to pay her $900 for losing the machine... as a gift card. She countered that it had originally cost over $1,100, not to mention all her data that was now gone for good. She demanded $2,100, and Best Buy simply ignored her.
At this point, Campbell was made aware that all her personal data on the machine could lead to a major identity theft issue, though Best Buy never filed their legally required notice that she was at risk. That was the last straw, and she filed suit for $54 million, representing herself. Best Buy has since upped its offer to a total of $4,100 if she withdraws the case. She says she doesn't expect to win, but wants to go to court anyway to force Best Buy to explain how her laptop was lost.
I have to agree that $54 million seems wildly optimistic, but it's amazing to hear how smug Best Buy has been throughout this process. Lowball, "go-away" offers that don't even value property properly, much less the value of the data inside it, are frankly embarrassing, and good for Campbell for making an issue out of it... even if she doesn't ultimately prevail.

People are dumb.

^ what he said.

After reading the story I hope she sticks it to Best Buy. It's the principle, not the money.

:+1:

Best Buy can be shitheads sometimes.

:+1::+1:

She stands to lose alot from what's happened. It's a shame to have to go that far just to get them to pay attention.

To elaborate on my first post, I think that she is stupid for suing for $54 million, but I think best buy is being complete asses about this.

The 54 is the same number used by the fool who sued the Koreans for his dry-cleaning. She used this same number to attract media attention, which I would say she succeeded in.

will she win 54 million..probably not but she does deserve to really stick it up Best buy for this BS...If you lost the laptop thats one thing but the poor poor compensation for losing said Laptop and DATA and leaving her open like that to identity theft. I hope she wins but definately not that much money...thats no different then those fat people who sued mcdonalds for making them fat.

I agree with FLK that she used such a high number to attract media attention, but for her goals of casting light on the poor customer service and compensation she recieved from Best Buy, it was a smart thing to do. She will not get anywhere near that amount of money, probably not even enough to cover the cost of her lsot laptop and legal fees. But the damage it will do to Best Buy for being such jerks is the real pay off.

Ill never buy another laptop at BB. I payed extra for accidental and coverage but I still had to pay for them to run a hard drive test, which I already ran myself. I could've thrown the thing in the pool and they would've replaced it for free. Their geek squad needs to be completely overhauled.

falcon-nw.com...expensive yes but damn good computers and laptops. They are gaming pc/notebooks but when I built on back in 2000 the standard computers in 2005 were finally catching up well worth the couple of thousand to fork over.

they can just give her two laptop and enroll her SSS number with those identity theft protection like LIFELOCK. then end of story.

No I agree with her. I have never sued anyone and hope to never have to, but I have always been told if you are going to do it sue for a lot more than you think you will ever get. 54 million may be a bit much but when your entire financial future may be at risk why is it that ridiculous?
Best Buy as ak47m203 could easily have solved the problem with a little over compensation and identity protection. Now they will probably have to pony up a few million. 1-5 million I'd say may very well be the amount to come of this one and I hope it is. Fair play to her. :confused2: off topic...this little blue guys eyes freak me out!! Some exorcist s*** going on here lol

and to think LIFELOCK will only cost them $10/ month and it's one of the best protection($1 million protection).