rla630,

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this issue.

My initial speculation would suggest that the touch panel on the television is activating on it's own based on your battery removal test.

The cost should not have been quoted, as you are under warranty. Call 800-SAMSUNG, and we'll have a service tech come out free of charge.

It's a fixable issue, but if you'd like to exchange it, you'd have to negotiate that with Sears.

Keep me posted.

--HDTech