NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC of Nashville (BS&J), and Doyle APC of San Diego, California, have filed a class action lawsuit against Intel Corporation for alleged design flaws in Intel’s computer processors.

The lawsuit, Garcia v. Intel Corporation, Case No. Case 5:18-cv-00046, was filed Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

On Jan. 2, 2018, news broke throughout the tech world that millions of Intel computer chips containing a fatal security flaw may only be patched by compromising a computer’s performance. Research teams at Google’s Project Zero and universities in the United States, Austria and Australia released a detailed study on three possible cyberattacks made possible because of the fatal security glitch in these Intel chips.

The security flaw appears related to performance enhancement features contained within the computer processors, which make a computer’s most sensitive functions vulnerable to manipulations by cyber attackers. According to these latest reports, because the vulnerability relates to the technology that allows the chips to process data faster, patching the security flaws will likely lead to decreased computer performance. Several companies in the tech industry, including Intel and Microsoft, have been working on a patch in order to issue an update to operating systems in the coming weeks.

The suit’s plaintiffs, Steven Garcia and Anthony Stachowiak, allege that the computer chips containing the fatal security flaws violate California and Tennessee law. Specifically, the plaintiffs bring claims for breach of warranty and violations of consumer protection statutes alleging that Intel’s selling of computer chips with this fatal security flaw misled consumers about the performance and reliability of the computers operating with this hardware. The plaintiffs seek to represent a class of plaintiffs who purchased Intel’s fatally flawed computer chips. It is alleged that the security flaw will affect millions of computers currently in use across the country.

“We look forward to holding Intel responsible for exposing millions of Americans to unnecessary data security risks, and will lead the charge to ensure that Intel corrects these flaws as quickly as possible,” says Gerard Stranch, managing partner of BS&J.

“The security vulnerability revealed by these reports suggests that this may be one of the largest security flaws ever facing the American public,” says Bill Doyle of Doyle APC. “It is imperative that Intel act swiftly to fix the problem and ensure consumers are fully compensated for all losses suffered as a result of their actions.”

About Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC (www.bsjfirm.com)

For more than 65 years, Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC has been known for the quality of its advocacy and the integrity of its attorneys. The firm enjoys a national reputation of prominence in the complex litigation arena for its work in class actions, shareholder derivative claims, securities, ERISA, labor and employment, and other complex cases, both at the trial and appellate levels.

Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC is dedicated to providing a full range of legal services to its diverse clientele. In addition to providing quality legal services, the firm is proud of the professional and civic leadership its members have provided, both locally and nationally. The firm’s former managing partner, Jane Branstetter Stranch, was nominated by President Obama to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and now serves as a judge on that court following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, and was recently named among "Best Law Firms" by U.S. News & World Report for 2017, receiving the highest possible Nashville ranking as a Tier 1 in two practice areas.