( March 17, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT) -- SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge in California on March 16 denied Apple Inc.’s motion to dismiss a putative class’s claims for fraudulent concealment and other causes of action in a case alleging that its smartwatch bands contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances XE "per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances" (PFAS), ruling that the plaintiffs demonstrated standing and adequately pleaded an injury. The judge granted Apple’s motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ fraudulent misrepresentation and implied warranty of merchantability claims, however....