San Diego Attorney Joins Leadership Team in California Coordinated Proceeding Against OpenAI Over Alleged AI Chatbot Harms
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Benjamin Schenk, a partner with The Schenk Law Firm, has been appointed by the San Francisco Superior Court to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in In re ChatGPT Product Liability Cases, Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding (JCCP) No. 5431 – a coordinated proceeding that involves landmark litigation against artificial intelligence (AI) companies.
The proceeding is among the first in the country to ask whether a generative AI chatbot is subject to traditional liability law. According to court documents, it brings together more than twenty lawsuits filed in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Alameda and San Diego counties with plaintiffs from across the country. The cases name OpenAI and, in some complaints, Microsoft as defendants and allege ChatGPT harmed users by failing to provide adequate safeguards for people in mental health crises. The claims include design defect, failure to warn, negligence, wrongful death and the unlicensed practice of medicine. OpenAI has disputed the allegations.
Frederick Schenk, managing partner of The Schenk Law Firm, noted that Benjamin Schenk will play an integral role in helping all the victims of AI chatbot harm. "Benjamin's passion for seeking justice makes him uniquely well suited for this leadership role and his contributions will be indispensable," said Frederick Schenk. The steering committee provides leadership for the coordinated plaintiffs' cases and helps guide common issues, including pleadings, discovery and pretrial strategy.
According to Benjamin Schenk, the litigation comes as courts nationwide are addressing how long-established product liability principles apply to artificial intelligence. "The question is whether the companies building conversational AI owe users the same duty of safety every other manufacturer does," said Schenk. "How these products are designed, tested and warned about will be decided in part by these cases. I'm honored to help lead this groundbreaking effort."
Active in the fast-moving field of AI litigation, Benjamin Schenk is a trial attorney and co-founder of The Schenk Law Firm – a San Diego-based firm specializing in personal injury, mass tort and business advisory.
About The Schenk Law Firm
Headquartered in San Diego, The Schenk Law Firm is a full-service practice comprised of top trial and business attorneys with many decades of experience in complex litigation, corporate strategy and government service – delivering sophisticated legal counsel backed by proven leadership and results. For more information, visit www.schenklawfirm.com.
Media Contact
Sydnie Moore, The Schenk Law Firm, 1 (619) 823-8488, [email protected], https://schenklawfirm.com/
SOURCE The Schenk Law Firm
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