Timeline of AI Chatbot Harm Litigation
Families have filed lawsuits against AI chatbot companies alleging that their products caused wrongful death and psychological harm to young users. This page walks through the litigation record in chronological order and explains where each case stands.
October 2024: The First Wrongful Death Lawsuit
In October 2024, Megan Garcia filed the first wrongful death lawsuit against an AI chatbot company in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The case, Garcia v. Character Technologies, named Character.AI and Google as defendants following the death of her teenage son.[1]
May 2025: Federal Court Allows Claims to Proceed
In May 2025, the federal court in the Garcia case issued a ruling on early motions. The court allowed core product liability and wrongful death claims to move forward, treating the chatbot app as a product for purposes of those claims. This was a procedural ruling on whether the claims could proceed, not a finding that the defendants were liable or had caused harm.[2]
August 2026: First OpenAI Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed
On August 26, 2025, the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine filed a wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman in the Superior Court of California in San Francisco. The complaint alleges that their son died after using an OpenAI product. OpenAI has denied responsibility. The case is identified as Raine v. OpenAI.[3]
November 2025: Additional California Lawsuits
In November 2025, seven more lawsuits were filed in California state courts against OpenAI and Sam Altman. These complaints allege psychological harm to young users. Four of the seven are wrongful death claims.[4]
January 2026: Kentucky Files State Action
On January 8, 2026, the Attorney General of Kentucky filed the first state government lawsuit against an AI chatbot company. The case, Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Character Technologies, alleges consumer protection and privacy violations. This is a separate enforcement action brought by a state regulator, not a private lawsuit by an individual or family.[2]
January 2026: Character.AI and Google Settle Five Cases
In January 2026, Character.AI and Google reached settlements in five lawsuits filed in multiple federal courts. The settled cases involved claims of teen deaths and mental health harms and were filed in Florida, Colorado, New York, and Texas. The Garcia case, which had been the first filed and had survived early dismissal motions, was among the cases settled. The terms of the settlements were not disclosed, and no information about payment amounts or other conditions has been made public.[5]
Where Things Stand Today
As of the most recent information in the record we track, the Raine v. OpenAI case filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco remains ongoing. The record does not show any ruling on the merits in that case.[3]
The seven additional California lawsuits filed in November 2025 against OpenAI and Sam Altman also remain pending. The record we track does not show any rulings, settlements, or trial dates in those cases.
The Kentucky state enforcement action against Character Technologies, filed in January 2026, is also ongoing. The record does not show any resolution or ruling in that matter.
No trial date has been set in any of these cases according to the record we track. No court has issued a final ruling on the merits finding that any AI chatbot company caused harm or is liable for wrongful death or psychological injury.
What Is Not Known Yet
The settlements reached by Character.AI and Google in January 2026 resolved five cases, but the terms were not disclosed. The record does not show how much money, if any, was paid, who received it, or what other conditions the parties agreed to.
The record does not show the current procedural status of the seven California cases filed in November 2025 beyond the fact that they were filed. It is not known whether any motions have been filed or heard, whether discovery is underway, or when any rulings might be expected.
The record does not show whether additional lawsuits have been filed beyond those described here, or whether other AI chatbot companies face similar claims.
No information is available in the record about what evidence has been presented in any of these cases, what internal company documents may exist, or what any expert witnesses have said.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text in the United States.[3]
Sources
- Garcia v. Character Technologies (M.D. Fla.) (2024-10-01). Secondary report: euronews.com
- Garcia v. Character Technologies (M.D. Fla.) (2025-05-01). Secondary report: wisnerbaum.com
- Raine v. OpenAI (Cal. Super. Ct., San Francisco) (2025-08-26). Secondary report: letsdatascience.com
- California state courts (2025-11-01). Secondary report: au.rollingstone.com
- Multiple federal courts (2026-01-26). Secondary report: folio3.ai
Litigation facts on this page come from the TortIntel litigation record and the documents linked above. Last checked against that record on 2026-10-24. If you see an error, tell us and we will correct it.