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 (721 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)
Based on this database, I have developped an automated reference checker that also detects hallucinations: PelAIkan. Check the Reports
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.
| Case | Court / Jurisdiction | Date ▼ | Party Using AI | AI Tool ⓘ | Nature of Hallucination | Outcome / Sanction | Monetary Penalty | Details | Report(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States v. Farris | CA 6th Cir. (USA) | 3 April 2026 | Lawyer | Westlaw CoCounsel |
Fabricated
Doctrinal Work
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(2)
|
Counsel disqualified with no compensation for time served; Briefs locked; Bar Referral; Notice of Opinion | — | — | |
|
Source: Robert Freund
|
|||||||||
| Kevin D. Turnage v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., et al. | D. Arizona (USA) | 2 April 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(3),
other
(1)
Misrepresented
Legal Norm
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Stanford v. Leinart | Tex. App.—Fort Worth (USA) | 2 April 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Appellate court admonished that citation of nonexistent AI-generated cases is unacceptable; no professional sanction imposed in this appeal. | — | — | |
|
The court identified that appellant Jason Stanford's appellate brief included a fabricated case citation—"Anderson v. Hood"—which the court determined does not exist and appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence. The court called citation of nonexistent AI-generated cases unacceptable and relied on this finding in criticizing Stanford's brief, but it did not impose a professional sanction related specifically to the fabricated citation in this appeal.
|
|||||||||
| Saqib Kafeel v. Apple Inc., et al. | N.D. California (USA) | 1 April 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Patrick Hrdlichka v. Samantha Bengston | CA Arkansas (USA) | 1 April 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| In the Interest of W.G., Minor Child | CA Iowa (USA) | 1 April 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Perplexity |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Evgeny Yaroshevsky v. Karlin et al. | E.D. New York (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Gemini |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
other
(1)
|
Recommended adverse costs order | — | — | |
|
R&R was adopted later on (see here). |
|||||||||
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Chelsea Montes v. Suns Legacy Partners LLC | D. Arizona (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Lawyer | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(6)
False Quotes
Case Law
(2)
|
Adverse Costs Order; CLE; Notification | — | — | |
|
Source: Robert Freund
|
|||||||||
| Edward C. Allen v. Western Governors University, et al. | D. Nevada (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(4)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(3)
|
Case dismissed with prejudice; Adverse Costs Order | 1 USD | — | |
| Rushing v. Rushing et al. | CA Minnesotta (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
CA greenlighted dismissal of case for AI misuse | — | — | |
| Rosa Maria Cabrera Thompson v. Seattle Public Schools | W.D. Washington (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Order to Show Cause | — | — | |
| Federal Trade Commission v. James D. Noland, Jr., et al. | D. Arizona (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Quandel Construction Group, Inc. v. Hunt Construction Group, Inc. | S.D. Ohio (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Lawyer | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Order to Explain | — | — | |
| Heimkes v. Fairhope Motorcoach Resort Condominium Owners Association, Inc. | S.D. Alabama (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Lawyer | Cocounsel (Westlaw) |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
Outdated Advice
Overturned Case Law
(1)
|
Reprimand; Order to file order in subsequent cases; Bar Referral; Adverse Costs Order | 55597 | — | |
| Ford v. Sherwin-Williams | D. Kansas (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
The district court identified fabricated citations and quotations in the pro se plaintiff's filings (e.g., a cited Westlaw number and case caption that did not match the cited authority). The court suspected the citations were AI-generated, cautioned the plaintiff, and referenced D. Kan. Standing Order 26-01 warning of possible sanctions for fabricated or incorrect legal authority. No sanction was imposed in this Order. |
|||||||||
| Syreeta LaShawn McNeal v. Vera L. Calvin, et al. | E.D. Missouri (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Show Cause Order | — | — | |
| Nguedi v. General Dynamics Information Technology | D. D.C. (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
False Quotes
Case Law
(3)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
— | — | ||
| Hampton v. Lofton | CA Arizona (1d) (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1),
Exhibits or Submissions
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Staley v. City of Elba, et al. | M.D. Alabama (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(3)
|
— | — | ||
|
The court (adopting the Magistrate Judge's Recommendation) observed that Plaintiff's filings included citations to cases and purported quotations that do not exist; Defendants pointed this out in their filing. The observation was noted but did not result in sanctions; the case was dismissed for failure to state a claim. |
|||||||||
| Christopher A. Ambrose v. Bandy X. Lee | D. Connecticut (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2),
other
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Jaii LeShawn Quinones v. Unknown Love, et al. | E.D. Missouri (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Show Cause Order | — | — | |
| Zavadovsky v. Republic of Austria, et al. | D. D.C. (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
False Quotes
Case Law
(4)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Ella and Ramin LLC v. Travelers Insurance Company | N.D. Illinois (USA) | 31 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Danuta Dec v. Homeland Security | 7th Cir. CA (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Lawyer | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Admonishment | — | — | |
|
Source: Robert Freund
|
|||||||||
| Jacobs v. Payward, Inc. | D. Connecticut (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Admonishment | — | — | |
| Yves Hector Vimegnon v. Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. | D. Oregon (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Nicole Olbera, et al. v. Tiara Sykes | CA Indiana (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Edward Reynolds v. Progressive Technologies, Inc. | W.D. Tennessee (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Megan E. Bryan v. Child Support Enforcement Agency, State of Hawaiʻi | SC Hawaiʻi (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Shaun Fleck v. Del-One Federal Credit Union | D. Oregon (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| 76 Route 6 Holdings Inc. v. Town of Yorktown, NY | S.D. New York (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Lawyer | Implied |
False Quotes
Case Law
(2)
|
Admonishment | — | — | |
| Beedemariam Kassaw v. Wal-Mart Corporation | W.D. New York (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Brief Struck | — | — | |
| Randel Edward Page, Jr. v. Apperson Crump | W.D. Tennessee (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(3)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Williams v. Chicago Board Of Education | N.D. Illinois (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Lawyer | Implied |
False Quotes
Case Law
(2)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Order to Explain | — | — | |
| Souza v. City of Fitchburg | D. Massachusetts (USA) | 30 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Exhibits or Submissions
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Amtrust North America o/b/o Justin McGinness v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company | SC New Jersey (USA) | 27 March 2026 | Lawyer | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(4)
|
Monetary Sanction; Adverse Costs; CLE (recommended) | 9000 USD | — | |
|
Source: Robert Freund
|
|||||||||
| McCarthy v. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration | CA Third Circuit (USA) | 27 March 2026 | Lawyer | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Reprimand; Notification to other courts and the National Disciplinary Data Bank | — | — | |
|
Source: Robert Freund
|
|||||||||
| Andrea K. Tantaros v. Fox News Network, LLC, et al. | S.D. New York (USA) | 27 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(7),
Legal Norm
(2)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
Source: Volokh
|
|||||||||
| Pizzimenti v. City of Detroit, et al. | E.D. Michigan (USA) | 27 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(3)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Patrick C. Shaltry, I v. Brent Benzing, et al. | E.D. Michigan (USA) | 27 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
False Quotes
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Lauren K. Morgan v. Michael P. Whitticom | SC Connecticut (USA) | 27 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
The court found the defendant's post-judgment motion likely generated with AI assistance and containing numerous fictitious or inapplicable citations. The court identified specific miscitation(s) and characterized the submission as 'riddled with fake citations and legal proposition[s].' The court declined to impose a sanction now but warned the pro se defendant that future similar filings may result in sanctions under Connecticut Practice Book § 4-2(b). |
|||||||||
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| William C. Maxwell v. Dakota Michael & Chelsey Smith | S.D. Indiana (USA) | 26 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Referral to Magistrate | — | ||
| Anthony Wallace v. PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, et al. | D. Nevada (USA) | 26 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(5)
False Quotes
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Mission Critical Project Services, Inc. | GAO (USA) | 26 March 2026 | Lawyer | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
Source: David Timm
|
|||||||||
| The Advocates for Human Rights and L.H.M. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al. | D. Minnesota (USA) | 26 March 2026 | — | Implied |
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
— | |||
| Curry v. Capital One Auto Finance | E.D. North Carolina (USA) | 26 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1),
Legal Norm
(1)
|
Leave to amend denied | — | — | |
|
The court found the plaintiff's proposed amended complaints included fabricated legal authorities — including fictitious provisions of a purported North Carolina Identity Theft Protection Act and other fabricated citations — and concluded the filings were likely drafted with AI. The court denied leave to amend as futile and constituted bad faith due to the fabricated citations, and granted defendant's motion to dismiss. |
|||||||||
| State National Insurance Company, Inc. v. Damon Treadwell, et al. | N.D. Alabama (USA) | 26 March 2026 | Lawyer | ChatGPT; OpenCase |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
Public reprimand; Order Notification | — | — | |
| Dixon v. MultiCare Health System | W.D. Washington (USA) | 26 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Baker v. Rastelli Foods LLC | D. New Jersey (USA) | 26 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Order to provide PDF copies of cited case; Order to Show Cause | — | — | |
| Coomer v. Lindell/MyPillow, Inc. (2) | D. Colorado (USA) | 25 March 2026 | Lawyer | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Show Cause Order | — | — | |