Case lacey-v-openaiChatbot harmUnited States
Father alleges ChatGPT fostered dependence and aided 17-year-old Amaurie Lacey's suicide
Cedric Lacey alleges ChatGPT fostered an intense relationship with his son, who withdrew from other activities, and responded inadequately when he disclosed depression and suicidal thoughts.
CriticalHarm caused by AIStatus: OngoingVerified case file
Open in the interactive mapCite this case
- Reported
- Nov 6, 2025
- Location
- United States
- Target
- 17-year-old ChatGPT user in Georgia
- Severity
- Critical
- Triggered by
- OpenAI (ChatGPT, GPT-4o)
- Actor type
- AI product design / safeguards
- Sector
- Individuals & consumers
- Reported loss
- None reported
- CVE
- None
What happened
Cedric Lacey alleges ChatGPT fostered an intense relationship with his son, who withdrew from other activities, and responded inadequately when he disclosed depression and suicidal thoughts.
Impact: Death of a 17-year-old in Georgia (date not stated in sources reviewed). One of four death cases in the November 2025 batch.
Who triggered it
Actor: OpenAI (ChatGPT, GPT-4o)
Attribution: Wrongful-death suit by SMVLC and Tech Justice Law Project alleges aid and encouragement of suicide, product defect and failure to warn.
Motive: None; harm alleged to arise from the product's design and safeguards
How it happened
Attack vector: A teenager's use of ChatGPT for schoolwork that turned into emotional reliance and discussion of suicidal thoughts.
Root cause: As alleged: manipulative, engagement-driven GPT-4o design and safeguards that failed to stop harmful self-harm information reaching a minor.
Timeline
- Suit filed in San Francisco Superior Court
- Case coordinated as JCCP 5431
Response
OpenAI said it was reviewing the filings and called the situations incredibly heartbreaking. Case filed in San Francisco Superior Court and coordinated in JCCP 5431.
Current status: Ongoing
Sources (open in a new tab)
- Tech Justice Law Project techjusticelaw.org
- Bay News 9 (AP) baynews9.com
- SAN san.com
Cite this case
Father alleges ChatGPT fostered dependence and aided 17-year-old Amaurie Lacey's suicide. AI Threat Watch, case lacey-v-openai, Nov 6, 2025. https://aithreat.io/cases/lacey-v-openai/
Permanent link: https://aithreat.io/cases/lacey-v-openai/