Yellowknifer, citing Lauren Collins/Black Press, reported Sept. 8 that 30 new lawsuits filed in California seek a jury trial against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. NPR reported Sept. 2 that people present at the shooting, including students, teachers and a principal, filed the complaints in San Francisco federal court.
What did the California filings say?
Yellowknifer reported that the Edelson law firm filed the 30 suits after earlier cases on behalf of victims killed in the spring. The same report said plaintiffs include a 19-year-old student shot in the chest, a gym teacher who hid students and a student who said they played dead among classmates.
NPR reported that the new complaints accuse OpenAI officials of putting public image ahead of safety and claim the company should have referred the alleged shooter's ChatGPT account to authorities. The Guardian reported that the suits accuse OpenAI and Altman of negligence, aiding and abetting a mass shooting and product liability. Those are allegations, not court findings.
How did OpenAI respond?
NPR reported that Jason Kwon, OpenAI's chief strategy officer, disputed the plaintiffs' account and said it was false to say Chris Lehane took part in the original referral decision or that investigators report to him. The Guardian reported that Kwon said OpenAI works to create standards for reporting cases to law enforcement.
TechCrunch reported that the new complaints name Lehane in allegations about who decided against contacting authorities, but TechCrunch also said it could not confirm whether Lehane had override authority or involvement in the case. TechCrunch reported that Lehane is not a defendant.
Related context
The pleadings described by The Guardian include product liability allegations, and the underlying reports describe physical injuries and wrongful death claims. Lederer & Nojima LLP has a related product liability lawyer resource for readers comparing how product defect allegations are handled in civil cases.
Sources
- Yellowknifer: 30 more lawsuits filed against OpenAI, Altman in Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, Sept. 8, 2026.
- NPR: New lawsuits claim OpenAI execs put image ahead of safety in Canadian mass shooting, Sept. 2, 2026.
- The Guardian: Tumbler Ridge mass shooting victims file 30 new lawsuits against OpenAI, Sept. 2, 2026.
- TechCrunch: OpenAI faces 30 more lawsuits tied to Tumbler Ridge shooting, Sept. 2, 2026.
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