Roblox has been at the center of major controversies in recent years, with serious allegations of grooming, sexual exploitation, and sexual abuse running rampant on the platform. Anapol Weiss has filed over 10 lawsuits against the popular gaming platform for their egregious neglect, including lack of sufficient safety features and vetting, that has led to innocent children being harmed. In most of the lawsuits filed against them, Roblox has tried to move to arbitration, claiming that users waive their right to a jury trial when they sign up for the program.
However, a California Superior Court Judge recently denied Roblox’s attempt to force one family’s lawsuit into a private resolution process, signifying a legal precedent that can open the door for other victims to pursue the justice they are so vehemently owed.
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California Judge Rejects Roblox’s Push for Private Arbitration
The ruling, which was issued by California Superior Court Judge Nina Shapirshteyn, applies to a family in San Mateo County, who filed a lawsuit after learning that their son had been sexually exploited.
How One Family’s Case Sparked a Larger Legal Shift
Believing it to be a harmless game, the child’s father created a Roblox account for his son when he was 13 years old. A year later, he found disturbing messages on his son’s phone from a man who was posing as a 16-year old. The predator found and contacted the victim, even though they were not friends on the platform. Once he established a connection with the young boy, the predator moved the conversation off Roblox and onto Discord, where he allegedly began exploiting the child by asking for explicit photos and videos in exchange for Robux gift cards.
When the boy failed to show up at an in-person meeting, the predator reminded him that he knew his address and where to find him. According to the child’s father, the predator knew the boy’s phone number, home address, and what school he attended. Local police identified the man as a known predator who was facing criminal charges for sexually exploiting another child and had a history of exploiting at least 26 other children on gaming platforms such as Roblox.
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What the Ruling Means for Other Families
Anapol Weiss is representing the San Mateo County family and considers the court’s rejection of Roblox’s motion to compel arbitration a major win for them and other families seeking justice. “It was a motion to silence this family, to prevent this family from presenting what happened to them to a judge and jury, and instead put it into a secret rigged system,” Anapol Weiss shareholder Alexandra Walsh told ABC News. “Roblox has followed suit in multiple other cases…they’ve either filed similar motions to compel arbitration, or made very clear that they intend to do so.”
While Roblox, of course, has a right to defend itself, Alexandra Walsh also emphasized to ABC News that they should do so “in the light of day so the public can see, and so that a jury made up of citizens of this country can decide if they’re liable or not.”
At this time, Roblox is facing more than 35 lawsuits.
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Anapol Weiss Continues to Fight for Justice
Anapol Weiss is currently investigating many cases of sexual exploitation and abuse committed on Roblox and other platforms. If you suspect your child was the victim of grooming, call Anapol Weiss today at 215-608-9645 or fill out our online contact form for a free and confidential consultation.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.