Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, COMPLAINTS—ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS—Google faces lawsuit over student’s access to Gemini through school-issued Chromebook, (Nov 10, 2026)

By WK Editorial Staff

The chatbot engaged the minor in discussions involving self-harm and suicide, the complaint asserts.

The parents of a 13-year-old student have sued Google LLC and Alphabet Inc. on their child’s behalf, alleging that Google’s Gemini chatbot contributed to a severe mental health crisis after the student accessed the technology through a school-issued Chromebook. The parents seek compensatory and punitive damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, and a jury trial. The case was recently removed to California federal court (Doe v. Google LLC, No. 26CV507724 (Cal. Super. Nov. 2, 2026)).

Gemini use. The parents allege their child initially encountered Gemini through AI Mode while conducting Google searches for schoolwork. According to the complaint, the student’s use increased sharply after December 2025 and eventually involved thousands of exchanges on topics including mental health, self-harm, and suicide. The lawsuit alleges Gemini provided mental health assessments, reinforced some of the student’s beliefs, and engaged in extended discussions about personal problems and suicidal thoughts rather than consistently directing the student to outside assistance.

The student allegedly began planning her suicide and funeral with the chatbot’s help. In March 2026, third-party monitoring software used by the school flagged a Google document indicating the student was at risk of self-harm. The parents then intervened and obtained emergency psychiatric care for their child.

Allegations. The lawsuit alleges Google designed Gemini to encourage continued engagement through human-like conversation, validation, and ongoing interaction. The parents contend the chatbot was capable of developing what appeared to users to be personal relationships and of responding to sensitive conversations involving mental health and suicide.

The complaint also alleges Google made Gemini available through Chromebooks, Google Search, and other educational products without adequate parental controls, crisis alerts, or warnings about alleged risks to minors. It further claims that records of certain conversations conducted through AI Mode are not available to parents or schools, limiting their ability to monitor students’ interactions with the technology.

Causes of action. The complaint asserts strict liability causes of action based on alleged design defects and failure to warn. The parents allege Google and Alphabet released Gemini without adequate safeguards or warnings concerning risks the product allegedly posed to minors.

The lawsuit also asserts a negligence cause of action, alleging the companies failed to exercise reasonable care in designing, developing, and providing Gemini to young users. Other claims include fraudulent concealment, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and an alleged violation of California’s Companion Chatbot Law.

Attorneys: Benjamin Will Horowitz (Qureshi Law P.C.) for Emma Doe. Benjamin Stark Softness (King & Spalding LLP) for Google LLC and Alphabet Inc.

Companies: Google LLC; Alphabet Inc.

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