Rice Parsons Leoni & Elliott LLP

09/02/2026

Today, a cross-border team comprised of RPLE lawyers John Rice, K.C., and Mallory K. Hogan and the formidable lawyers of the US law firm Edelson PC have filed cases for the eyewitnesses and victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting against OpenAI in the Northern District of California. These cases join the lawsuits we filed earlier this year on behalf of survivor Maya Gebala (12), who was shot three times in the head at close range, and the families of six deceased victims of the shooting. The new complaints set out allegations regarding OpenAI’s callous disregard for the Tumbler Ridge community when its safety team identified the perpetrator of the mass shooting as someone posing a credible threat of imminent and specific gun violence, but executives declined to inform law enforcement, preferring the interests of their company over the lives of innocent children. The complaints also detail what we say are the fundamental and extremely dangerous design flaws in OpenAI’s product, ChatGPT.

Today, a cross-border team comprised of RPLE lawyers John Rice, K.C., and Mallory K. Hogan and the formidable lawyers of the US law firm Edelson PC have filed cases for the eyewitnesses and victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting against OpenAI in the Northern District of California. These cases....

08/21/2026

What happens when the compensation available through ICBC’s no-fault insurance system doesn’t reflect the true impact of a serious injury?

RPLE partner, Michael Elliott, spoke with Global News about the concerns surrounding ICBC’s no-fault insurance system following the story of a motorcyclist who says the compensation she received after being seriously injured was inadequate.

Having represented injured British Columbians for decades, Michael shared his perspective on the challenges the current system can create for those whose lives have been permanently changed by a motor vehicle accident.

Watch the full Global News story here: https://globalnews.ca/video/12029562/motorcyclist-criticizes-icbc-no-fault-insurance/

https://rplelaw.com/what-happens-when-the-compensation-available-through-icbcs-no-fault-insurance-system-doesnt-reflect-the-true-impact-of-a-serious-injury/

Watch Motorcyclist criticizes ICBC no-fault insurance Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

07/30/2026

Carson Cleland was just 12 years old when he tragically took his own life after being the alleged victim of a sextortion scheme by an online predator through the social media app Snapchat. RPLE and Hunter Litigation Chambers represent Carson’s parents in a civil lawsuit against Snap Inc. The claim alleges that Snapchat’s design and platform features permitted and facilitated Carson’s sexual exploitation, and that the sextortion was predictable and preventable. Snap Inc. denies the allegations and maintains that the claim should not proceed.

In a court application, Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, applied to have the lawsuit brought by Carson’s parents dismissed before even filing a legal defence, arguing that the lawsuit was doomed to fail and was an abuse of process. RPLE and HLC lawyers vigorously opposed the relief sought and argued that not only was Snap’s application without legal merit, but that the plaintiffs should receive court costs in any event because the application was an unnecessary and improper waste of court resources, designed to frustrate due process, the Court’s fact-finding mission, and this family’s search for the truth.

Read more in the Prince George Citizen: https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/snapchat-seeks-to-scuttle-lawsuit-filed-by-parents-of-local-boy-12604302

https://rplelaw.com/snap-inc-application-to-dismiss-carson-cleland-lawsuit/

Carson Cleland, 12, took his own life after falling prey to an online sextortionist

07/29/2026

We are proud to announce that our partner, Michael Elliott, has been inducted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

The Academy is an invitation-only organization that recognizes exceptional trial lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding skill, integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to advancing the rule of law. Fellowship is limited to a select group of lawyers from around the world.

Michael’s induction is a testament to his decades of advocacy, dedication to his clients, and leadership within the legal community. Congratulations, Michael!

https://rplelaw.com/we-are-proud-to-announce-that-our-partner-michael-elliott-has-been-inducted-as-a-fellow-of-the-international-academy-of-trial-lawyers/

07/28/2026

RPLE LLP Partner John M. Rice, K.C. talks to Canadian Lawyer about why the Tumbler Ridge families are pursuing their OpenAI lawsuits in California rather than at home in BC — and what that says about the gaps in Canadian damages law.

As lead counsel representing families affected by the tragedy, John breaks down the significant gaps between BC and California law — from capped pain and suffering damages to the limited scope of wrongful death claims for the loss of a child under BC’s Family Compensation Act.

“The damages that we can recover for folks in Canada… are massively dwarfed by the opportunity for damages available in California,” John says.

That’s why we made the decision — alongside our clients and our colleagues at Edelson PC — to bring these claims in the Northern District of California, where OpenAI is headquartered and where the remedies available actually match the scale of the harm caused.

Read the full interview with John at Canadian Lawyer: Broader remedies, no caps on damages: Why the Tumbler Ridge lawsuits are being fought in California
https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/general/broader-remedies-no-caps-on-damages-why-the-tumbler-ridge-lawsuits-are-being-fought-in-california/394400

https://rplelaw.com/why-were-fighting-the-tumbler-ridge-lawsuits-in-california-not-bc/

RPLE LLP Partner John M. Rice, K.C. talks to Canadian Lawyer about why the Tumbler Ridge families are pursuing their OpenAI lawsuits in California rather than at home in BC — and what that says about the gaps in Canadian damages law.

07/20/2026

RPLE is proud to have been a Critical Care Sponsor of the 2026 Peace Arch Hospital Foundation ILLUME Gala.

A strong community is built on institutions that care for people at their most vulnerable. Peace Arch Hospital is one of those institutions. It is important to support the doctors, nurses, and staff of our hospitals who tirelessly provide care, comfort, and support to families in our community when they need it most. Our firm’s support of this fundraiser is our way of saying thank you for the extraordinary work that they do every day.

https://rplelaw.com/rple-is-proud-to-have-been-a-critical-care-sponsor-of-the-2026-peace-arch-hospital-foundation-illume-gala/

07/15/2026

We are pleased to share that the Supreme Court of British Columbia has certified a national class action against JUUL Labs, Inc. and Altria Group. The case is brought on behalf of persons who purchased and used JUUL products, alleging that the defendants misled consumers about the addictiveness and safety of their va**ng products. The action also alleges that the enterprise unlawfully marketed e-cigarettes to minors.

In permitting the action to proceed, the Court found that the plaintiffs had presented sufficient evidence supporting a plausible way of answering the central questions in the case, including expert evidence concerning the wrongful marketing conduct of the Defendants, dangers and addictive nature of JUUL products and young people’s heightened vulnerability to ni****ne. Subject to any appeal, the class action will proceed to be adjudicated on its merits.

This result reflects years of outstanding work by Tony Leoni, K.C., Jesse Kendall and Katherine Shapiro, together with the entire class actions team at RPLE and our excellent co-counsel at Siskinds LLP.

Learn more about the case and read the decisions at the link below:

https://rplelaw.com/class-action/juul-e-cigarettes/

07/06/2026

On February 10, 2026, people across Canada were heartbroken to learn of the tragic events at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Among those injured was 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who continues to receive treatment at BC Children’s Hospital.

Together with Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, Rice Parsons Leoni & Elliott LLP is honored to help provide housing stability for Maya and her family by covering the cost of their rental home for the next year. Allowing them to focus on what matters most—Maya’s recovery and being together as a family.

At Rice Parsons Leoni & Elliott LLP, we believe that safe, stable housing can make a meaningful difference during times of crisis. We are grateful to partner with Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Community Relief Fund to support this family and to stand alongside organizations committed to making a positive impact in our communities.

Read more here: https://portal.gvrealtors.ca/news/greater-vancouver-realtors-r-community-relief-fund-partners-with-rice-parsons-leoni-and-elliott

https://rplelaw.com/rice-parsons-leoni-elliott-llp-partners-with-greater-vancouver-realtors-community-relief-fund-to-support-family-affected-by-tumbler-ridge-tragedy/

Together with Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, Rice Parsons Leoni & Elliott LLP is honored to help provide housing stability for Maya and her family by covering the cost of their rental home for the next year. Allowing them to focus on what matters most—Maya's recovery and being together as a family.

04/29/2026

Today, a cross-border team comprised of RPLE lawyers John Rice KC and Mallory Hogan and the formidable lawyers of US law firm Edelson PC have brought cases for the victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting in California federal court against OpenAI. In June 2025, about eight months before the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, OpenAI, a company headquartered and doing business in San Francisco, California with a valuation approaching $1 trillion USD, flagged and banned the perpetrator’s ChatGPT account for “disturbing content” which allegedly included the discussion and planning of violent scenarios. However, despite some 12 different OpenAI employees imploring the company to notify Canadian law enforcement about the perpetrator’s plans, nothing else was done.

Our clients, represented in the US by Jay Edelson and his team, are courageously seeking accountability and actual change in the same jurisdiction OpenAI calls home – the Northern District of California. Ultimately, their goal, and our goal with them, is to make sure that there will be never again be an AI-predicted and facilitated mass shooting.

Says John Rice:

All Canadians are sickened and horrified by the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. We cherish our schools as places of safety, learning, sports, nurturing and friendship. Based on what we understand the perpetrator to have discussed with ChatGPT, this murderous rampage was specific, predictable, and preventable – and OpenAI had the chance to stop it. What the families of those murdered have lost and what these kids and teachers witnessed is unacceptable. It is the type of point-blank gun murder rarely seen anywhere, even in a theatre of war. Nothing will ever restore what these families have lost but they have together come as a community from a small, humble, hardworking mining town in the Canadian north to stand up to OpenAI.

We honour the memories of those lost in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, and we will fight to the very end to get justice for all our clients.

Recent media coverage has brought increased attention to this case. For broader context and in-depth reporting, you can explore coverage from Global News, the Vancouver Sun, CNN, BBC, CBC, NPR, Mother Jones, The Guardian, Financial Post, Bloomberg, AP News, The Washington Post, Ars Technica, and the Times Colonist.

Today, a cross-border team comprised of RPLE lawyers John Rice KC and Mallory Hogan and the formidable lawyers of US law firm Edelson PC have brought cases for the victims of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting in California federal court against OpenAI. In June 2025, about eight months before the Tumbl...