Roblox is currently arguing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky that a user who joined the platform at eight years old waived her right to a jury trial by accepting the company's Terms of Use. The move is part of the company's defense in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Jaimee Seitz, whose daughter, Audree Heine, died by suicide in December 2024.
Quick Facts
- Legal Filing: Roblox filed a motion to compel arbitration on August 7, 2026.
- Basis of Argument: The company claims the user manifested assent to its terms 28 times, including account creation, updates to terms, gift card redemptions, and 19 separate Robux purchases.
- Broader Context: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism opened an investigation into Roblox child safety on August 13, 2026, citing 65,381 reports of suspected child sexual exploitation submitted by the platform in 2025.
The lawsuit alleges that Audree Heine was exposed to violent and harmful communities on Roblox and Discord. Counsel for the plaintiff has formally disaffirmed the alleged contract, arguing that a minor lacks the legal capacity to enter into a binding arbitration agreement. The court has not yet ruled on whether the arbitration provision is enforceable in this case.
Roblox is also currently seeking to move over 150 other federal cases involving allegations of child exploitation and harm into private arbitration. In response to the ongoing scrutiny, the company has faced legislative pressure, including an order from U.S. Senators to preserve records related to child safety and abuse.
Discord, also named as a defendant, has presented a similar defense, noting that the user accepted its terms five times and entered an adult birthdate during registration. TikTok, which was added to the suit later, has argued that its platform did not proximately cause the death.