Florida AG v. OpenAI (AI safety, minors)
Florida AG v. OpenAI LLC / Sam Altman — First State-Led AI Safety Lawsuit (Highlands County Circuit Court after remand)
United States · State of Florida ex rel. Uthmeier v. OpenAI LLC et al. (Highlands County 10th Jud. Cir., June 1, 2026; removed to S.D. Fla. July 2, 2026)
- Status
- Blocked / in litigation
- Took effect
- June 1, 2026
- Applies to
- OpenAI LLC and CEO Sam Altman (defendants)
- Enforced by
- Florida Attorney General (state AG enforcement; case pending in Highlands County Circuit Court, 10th Judicial Circuit, after remand from S.D. Fla.)
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed the first-in-nation state-led lawsuit against OpenAI on June 1, 2026, in Highlands County Circuit Court, alleging ChatGPT was deceptively marketed to minors despite known safety risks. The 10-count complaint cites specific harms including the death of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide following extensive ChatGPT conversations, and the alleged use of ChatGPT by the accused Florida State University mass shooter. OpenAI LLC and CEO Sam Altman (named personally) removed the case to federal court before Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce on July 2, 2026. Florida has moved to remand; the jurisdictional battle is ongoing.
Who is protected: Florida minors and consumers harmed by deceptively marketed AI chatbot products; parents of minors harmed
Legal detail
State of Florida ex rel. Uthmeier v. OpenAI LLC and Sam Altman, filed June 1, 2026, Highlands County 10th Judicial Circuit, Florida; removed July 2, 2026 to S.D. Fla. (Fort Pierce) before Judge Aileen Cannon. 10-count complaint. Claims: (1) Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) violations — deceptive marketing of ChatGPT to minors while concealing known safety risks; (2) negligence and gross negligence; (3) strict product liability; (4) public nuisance; (5) failure to warn; (6) collection of data from minors without meaningful parental oversight in violation of state privacy law; (7) behavioral addiction and cognitive harm to minors. Defendants: OpenAI LLC (entity) and CEO Sam Altman (named personally — first time an AI CEO is individually named in a state AG suit). Named harms in complaint: Adam Raine (16, suicide after extended ChatGPT sessions), alleged use of ChatGPT by accused FSU mass shooter. Florida's motion to remand argues the case presents no federal question. As of July 26, 2026: no ruling on remand motion; case before Judge Cannon.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | United States |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Enacted | June 1, 2026 |
| Citation | State of Florida ex rel. Uthmeier v. OpenAI LLC et al. (Highlands County 10th Jud. Cir., June 1, 2026; removed to S.D. Fla. July 2, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | FDUTPA civil penalties; compensatory and punitive damages; injunctive relief; equitable remedies |
| Topics | consumer protection · consumer data privacy · automated decision-making |
| Agency page | Attorney General Uthmeier Files First-in-Nation State-Led Lawsuit Against OpenAI, CEO — Florida AG Official News Release |
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