Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

AI making up cases can get lawyers fired, scandalized law firm warns

Feb 19, 2025 - arstechnica.com
Morgan & Morgan, a prominent injury law firm, faced reputational risks after one of its attorneys, Rudwin Ayala, cited non-existent AI-generated case law in a lawsuit against Walmart. The firm's chief transformation officer, Yath Ithayakumar, warned over 1,000 attorneys that citing fake AI-generated cases could lead to disciplinary actions, including termination. Ayala's erroneous citations, found only on ChatGPT, led to his removal from the case and replacement by his supervisor, T. Michael Morgan. Morgan expressed embarrassment and agreed to cover all fees and expenses incurred by Walmart's attorneys due to the misleading filing, highlighting the incident as a cautionary tale for the legal industry.

This incident is part of a broader trend where lawyers have improperly cited AI-generated cases, disrupting litigation in at least seven cases over the past two years. Some lawyers have faced sanctions, such as fines and mandatory courses on responsible AI use. However, in a notable case, Michael Cohen, former lawyer for Donald Trump, avoided sanctions after inadvertently providing his attorney with fake case citations for his defense. This underscores the growing need for legal professionals to exercise caution when using AI tools in their practice.

Key takeaways:

  • Morgan & Morgan faced reputational risk due to a lawyer citing AI-generated fake cases in court filings.
  • The firm's chief transformation officer warned that citing fake AI-generated cases could lead to disciplinary action, including termination.
  • The incident led to the replacement of the lead attorney on the case and a settlement to cover fees and expenses for the opposing party.
  • Improper citation of AI-generated cases has caused issues in multiple legal cases, with some lawyers facing fines and mandatory courses on responsible AI use.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!