The government of British Columbia has formally retained California-based Stranch, Jennings & Garvey (SJ&G) to evaluate legal remedies against artificial intelligence giant OpenAI. This action marks an active pursuit of justice for the victims, families, and community devastated by the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The province is pursuing accountability over OpenAI's documented failure to notify law enforcement regarding explicit threats made by the perpetrator on the company's ChatGPT platform.

The tragic attack claimed the lives of eight people, including a dedicated educator and five children between the ages of 11 and 13, and left 27 others wounded. Internal reports indicate that OpenAI safety teams flagged the shooter's severe and specific violent prompts months before the attack, yet corporate leadership chose not to notify the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or local authorities. This failure to act has prompted the province to explore all legal avenues to hold the tech giant accountable.

"When there are serious concerns that opportunities to prevent harm were missed, we have a responsibility to act," said Niki Sharma, B.C. Attorney General. "We owe that to the victims, their families and everyone whose life was changed by this tragedy."

By retaining Lesley Weaver of SJ&G, as well as Vancouver-based CFM Lawyers, the province is positioning itself to challenge OpenAI within its home territory of California. Several of the victims' families have already filed individual lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The retention of outside counsel allows British Columbia to directly evaluate jurisdictional strategies and potential legal claims against the foreign technology giant.

"For too long, tech companies have operated under the assumption that they are insulated from the real-world carnage their platforms enable," said Lesley Weaver. "When an organization possesses automated, verified knowledge of an impending mass casualty threat and chooses silence to protect its corporate valuation, it becomes complicit in criminal activities."

Weaver issued a warning to investors regarding OpenAI's rumored $1 trillion IPO valuation, emphasizing the need to factor human harm into financing decisions. The legal proceedings represent a significant test of whether technology giants can operate with legal impunity across international borders.

OpenAI has hired former Uber Technologies India and South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh as its managing director for India. Singh will join the artificial intelligence company in September, becoming the most senior executive in the region. He will report to Asia Pacific Managing Director Kiran Mani and will oversee consumer growth, enterprise adoption, partnerships, regulatory engagement, and operations.

Singh left Uber last week after more than 10 years at the company. His appointment underscores OpenAI's focus on strengthening its presence in the Indian market and supporting the country's artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Strategic Expansion and Hiring Spree

OpenAI has been aggressively expanding its team as part of its growth plans. The company plans to double its workforce from 4,500 to 8,000 by the end of 2026. Since the start of the year, OpenAI has added 40 employees from Salesforce, reflecting its emphasis on scaling operations and talent acquisition.

Key Executive Appointments

The hiring of Singh is part of a series of strategic leadership changes at OpenAI. Recent appointments include:

Clint Gibler also announced joining OpenAI as a member of the technical staff, working with Michael Aiello, the company's head of product for cyber. These hires highlight OpenAI's commitment to building expertise across policy, product, partnerships, and technical domains.