AI Hallucination Cases

This database tracks legal decisions1 I.e., all documents where the use of AI, whether established or merely alleged, is addressed in more than a passing reference by the court or tribunal.

Notably, this does not cover mere allegations of hallucinations, but only cases where the court or tribunal has explicitly found (or implied) that a party relied on hallucinated content or material.

As an exception, the database also covers some judicial decisions where AI use was alleged but not confirmed. This is a judgment call on my part.
in cases where generative AI produced hallucinated content – typically fake citations, but also other types of AI-generated arguments. It does not track the (necessarily wider) universe of all fake citations or use of AI in court filings.

While seeking to be exhaustive (1522 cases identified so far), it is a work in progress and will expand as new examples emerge. This database has been featured in news media, and indeed in several decisions dealing with hallucinated material.2 Examples of media coverage include:
- M. Hiltzik, AI 'hallucinations' are a growing problem for the legal profession (LA Times, 22 May 2025)
- E. Volokh, "AI Hallucination Cases," from Courts All Over the World (Volokh Conspiracy, 18 May 2025)
- J-.M. Manach, "Il génère des plaidoiries par IA, et en recense 160 ayant « halluciné » depuis 2023" (Next, 1 July 2025) - J. Koebler & J. Roscoe, "18 Lawyers Caught Using AI Explain Why They Did It (404 Media, 30 September 2025)

If you have any questions about the database, a FAQ is available here.
And if you know of a case that should be included, feel free to contact me.3 (Readers may also be interested in this project regarding AI use in academic papers.)

Based on this database, I have developed an automated reference checker that also detects hallucinations: PelAIkan. Check the Reports Report icon in the database for examples, and reach out to me for a demo.

For weekly takes on cases like these, and what they mean for legal practice, subscribe to Artificial Authority.

Click to Download CSV
Last updated: 30 May 2026
State
Party
Nature – Category
Nature – Subcategory

Case Court / Jurisdiction Date ▼ Party Using AI AI Tool Nature of Hallucination Outcome / Sanction Monetary Penalty Details Report(s)
Jaclyn Cocco v. Rosario Palmieri, Jr. SC Pennsylvania (USA) 29 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
H. C. v. Contreras CA California (5d) (USA) 28 May 2026 Lawyer, Judge Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Legal Norm (1)
Judgment reversed and remanded
Source: Volokh
Blanes v. Stellers Jay Academy Inc. BC CRT (Canada) 28 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Courtready
Boyle, et al. v. Steven Kramer E.D. Michigan (USA) 28 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
USA ex rels. v. Barton Associates, Inc. CA 1st Circuit (USA) 28 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
In re M.H., M.L., and M.H., Minors CA Illinois (1d) (USA) 28 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Order to Show Cause
Innocent v. Meraki Installers, LLC CA Florida (4d) (USA) 27 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Bar Referral
Source: Christian Silva
Eclectic Synergy, LLC v. Seredin CA Florida (4d) (USA) 27 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Order to Show Cause
Source: Christian Silva
Robert Hinton Avery v. Danielle Beauzil CA Florida (4d) (USA) 27 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Legal Norm (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Barred from filing save with Counsel
Source: Christian Silva
Williamson v. Meyers (derivatively on behalf of Equinix, Inc.) D. Delaware (USA) 27 May 2026 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning

The Court identified at least one instance where Plaintiff cited a non-existent authority and informed Plaintiff. Plaintiff conceded the fictitious citation likely resulted from artificial intelligence. The Court excluded any contentions relying on the fabricated authority from its consideration and stated it would consider whether any additional action is required.

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Christ Apostolic Temple, Inc., Dwight Reed and Jordan Reed v. Demetrius Sinegal, et al. CA Iowa (USA) 27 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Polanco v. Himalayan Real Estate LLC, et al. E.D. New York (USA) 27 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Chen v. The Owners, Strata Plan LMS3094 Civil Resolution Tribunal (Canada) 27 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Legal Norm (1)
Source: Courtready
State of Oklahoma ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association v. Reeves SC Oklahoma (USA) 27 May 2026 Lawyer ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (4)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Public reprimand
SWSZ Holding v. SZ Global SC Delaware (USA) 27 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning, leave to refile
William C. Maxwell v. Dakota Michael & Chelsey Smith S.D. Indiana (USA) 26 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Monetary Sanction 1000 USD
Report
Plaintiff's Rebuttal

Order to Show Cause is here.

Hodges v. McGough Enterprises LLC S.D. New York (USA) 26 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (5)
Warning
Angela Sample and Dwayne Sample v. Ashford TRS Santa Fe, LLC D. New Mexico (USA) 26 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Jean-Paul B. Kalonji v. State of Indiana CA Indiana (USA) 26 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1), Legal Norm (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Guo v. Meade Motorcars, L.L.C. CA Ohio (6d) (USA) 26 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Deepseek
Fabricated Case Law (5)
Monetary Sanction 100 USD
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Johnny Fuselier v. John S. Riscassi S.D. Mississippi (USA) 22 May 2026 Lawyer Fastcase; Google AI
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Admonishment

Order to show cause is here.

Kings Roofing v. Fusion Works CA Florida (6th) (USA) 22 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Order to Show Cause
Re an Office-Holder; Cork v Smith Chancery (UK) 22 May 2026 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Legal Norm (3)
Misrepresented Legal Norm (1)
Public admonishment; SRA Referral
Saqib Kafeel v. CJDropshipping N.D. Illinois (USA) 22 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
A.T.W. v. Commonwealth of Kentucky CA Kentucky (USA) 22 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Sana Hazina Butler v. Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC S.D. New York (USA) 22 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Whitaker v. The Owners, Strata Plan VIS1144 CRT (Canada) 22 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Courtready
That Xiong v. Minga Wofford (2) E.D. California (USA) 21 May 2026 Lawyer ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (3)
No Sanctions in circumstances

Order to Show Cause is here. The court concluded:
"After careful consideration, including the involvement of a law student at the beginning of their legal career and for the reasons stated above, the Court exercises its discretion to discharge the OSC (ECF No. 49) and declines to impose sanctions on Petitioner’s counsel Cummings or law student [XX] for counsel’s failure to fully comply with the Court’s January 13, 2026 order. The Court repeats its admonishment that while AI and generative AI tools can assist counsel and parties, these tools must be used responsibly. They should not be used to verify legal authorityand citations, especially when generative AI tools were used to generate or identify the legal authority and citations being checked."

Maryia Sinkova v The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Federal Court (Canada) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (6)
Memorandum struck from the Court record and removed
Source: Courtready
Marie Pia Fazio v Canada Revenue Agency Federal Court (Canada) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated other (1)
Adverse Costs Order 100 CAD
Source: Courtready
Jackie L. Miller v. Regions Bank N.D. Alabama (USA) 21 May 2026 Lawyer ChatGPT
False Quotes Case Law (4)
DQ from case and court (6 months); Bar Referral
Simmons v. Shahidul Islam CA Tennessee (USA) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
City of Shaker Heights v. Andre D. Thompson CA Ohio (8d) (USA) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Dalton Gage Hill v. Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority (2) W.D. Oklajoma (USA) 21 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Magistrate recommended sanctions
Isaiah Hunter-Bey v. City of Cleveland Law Department CA Ohio (8d) (USA) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Admonishment
Chapel v. Americredit Financial Services & Experian N.D. Alabama (USA) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Admonishment
Twigg v. BSN Sports, Inc., et al. M.D. Pennsylvania (USA) 21 May 2026 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Order to Show Cause
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Lowrey v. City of Rio Rancho et al. (2) D. New Mexico (USA) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (3)
Warning (again)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Arron v. Custer, et al. S.D. Ohio (USA) 21 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Citation treated as unverified
In re the Marriage of Amy Haddock and Justin Blu Haddock Tulsa County DC (USA) 21 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Monetary Sanction; Bar Referral; Mandatory Audit of Firm Knowledge base; Adverse Costs Order 22749 USD

Costs later found to amount to 20,752 USD.

Davis v. Marion County Juvenile Detention Center S.D. Indiana (USA) 20 May 2026 Lawyer Fastcase
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Monetary Sanction 2000 USD

Magistrate had suggested a higher sanction: see here.

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Sherwood v. County of Botetourt, Virginia, et al. W.D. Virginia (USA) 20 May 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
Misrepresented Case Law (2), Legal Norm (1)
Landberg v City of New York App. NY (2d) (USA) 20 May 2026 Lawyer Implied Order to Show Cause
Brandy Dorsey v. Walter Livramento, III CA Maryland (USA) 20 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (6)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Curtin v. Watts, et al. M.D. North Carolina (USA) 20 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Warning
Downing v. Dwayne Brown, et al. CA 11th Cir. (USA) 20 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Brief partly struck
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Taiujuan Burches v. Equifax Information Services, LLC, et al. E.D. Louisiana (USA) 20 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied Warning
In re Nicholia Cherry-Crockette D. New Jersey (Bankruptcy) (USA) 20 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Ontario Securities Commission v Alli Capital Markets Tribunal (Canada) 20 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Courtready
Syreeta LaShawn McNeal v. Vera L. Calvin, et al. E.D. Missouri (USA) 19 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Order to provide certification with every future filing

Order to Show Cause is here.