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 (594 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 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 developped 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.

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)
Thomas Carl Dodds, Jr. v. Carrie Bridges CA Tenth Circuit (USA) 11 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Alamleh c. R. SC Quebec (Canada) 11 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (2), Legal Norm (1)
Misrepresented Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Labonte v. Bokf, et al. D. Colorado (USA) 10 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Warning
Morcos v Bayside Council IRC New South Wales (Australia) 10 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Nichole R. Palsen v. Webb Chevrolet, Inc., et al. CA Illinois (USA) 9 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (5)
False Quotes Case Law (5)
Order to show cause
Bettis v. Gaston N.D. Illinois (USA) 9 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Nelson L. Bruce v. The United States D. South Carolina (USA) 9 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Legal Norm (1)
Warning
David Angel Sifuentes, III v. Capital One CA, Tenth Circuit (USA) 6 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Mutugu v. Kiaraho CA Indiana (USA) 6 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1), Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Nonnie Berg v. United Airlines, Inc. (3) D. Colorado (USA) 6 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Filing restriction
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Ravi Kadiyala v. Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing et al. N.D. Illinois (USA) 6 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
In re: Snowflake, Inc., Data Security Breach Litigation J.P.M.L. (USA) 5 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (5)
Warning
Mitchell Taylor Button & Dusty Button v. Sigrid McCawley S.D. Florida (USA) 4 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
False Quotes Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Show Cause Order; Order to certify review of citations
Sebastian Rako v. VMware LLC (2) N.D. California (USA) 4 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Required meet-and-confer for AI-use disputes
Azad Alamgir Kabir v. WebMD D. New Jersey (USA) 3 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Struck filings; warning
Emmanuel S. Yirenkyi v. Angela Hoover M.D. Pennsylvania (USA) 2 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Broadwater Tower Queensland BCCMC (Australia) 2 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Legal Norm (3)
Warning
Yang v. University of Minnesota CA Minnesota (USA) 2 February 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Theoda E. Mills, Jr. v. City of St. Louis, et al. E.D. Missouri (USA) 30 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Case dismissed with prejudice as a Rule 11 sanction

Show Cause Order is here.

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Wilcox v. Gingrinch CA Indiana (USA) 30 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
Misrepresented Case Law (4)
SEC v. Joseph Nantomah et al. E.D. Wisconsin (USA) 30 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (3)
Brief Struck
Mme Y TA Rennes (France) 30 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Health Care Complaints Commission v Campbell NSW CAT (Australia) 30 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Outdated Advice Repealed Law (1)
Rasko v. ICBC BC CRT (Canada) 30 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Source: Steve Finlay
Folarin v. The Immigration Services Commissionner First-tier Tribunal (UK) 29 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Ava Naeini v. Confluent Inc. CA California (USA) 29 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Dana Serine Greene v. GSK PLC W.D. Washington (USA) 29 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (5)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Howse v. Coulton BC CRT (Canada) 29 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Nonnie Berg v. United Airlines, Inc. (2) D. Colorado (USA) 28 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Warning

The court identified citations to seemingly nonexistent cases in the plaintiff's filings (e.g., "Hernandez" and "United States v. Miller"), noted prior warnings about AI-generated or unvetted citations, denied the motions, and warned it may recommend dismissal or similar sanctions if the conduct continues.

Life Together Coaching, LLC GAO (USA) 28 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: David Timm
Gregory Hardy v. Genesee County Community Action Resource Department, et al. E.D. Michigan (USA) 28 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
Two reply briefs stricken; warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Brian Bailey v. Hon. Clark A. Ritchie, et al. W.D. Virginia (USA) 27 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Ihor Chopko v. Fidelity National Title Insurance Company CA Arizona (USA) 27 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Nelson Henry v. Joseph Iannone and James Deacetis S.D. Florida (USA) 27 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Davidson v PCL Constructors Inc. HRT Alberta (Canada) 27 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
MacroCharts Research LLC v. Tony Chou N.D. California (USA) 26 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Farag v. Persante et al M.D. Florida (USA) 26 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Exhibits or Submissions (3), Legal Norm (1)
Warning
Ralph J. Massetti, Jr. v. Greenspring Capital Management, LLC, et al. S.D. Florida (USA) 26 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)

Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint included citations the Court could not locate; Greenspring moved for sanctions citing those nonexistent authorities. The Court found pro se status, correction attempts, and voluntary dismissal counseled against sanctions and therefore recommended denying the motion.

Cohen v. Egged Transportation Ltd Magistrates Court of Jerusalem (Israel) 25 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1), Legal Norm (1)
Order to Amend
Femhealth USA Carafem v. Rickey Nelson Williams M.D. Tennessee (USA) 23 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1), Legal Norm (1)
Arguments Struck; Warning
Dennis Thornton v. Flathead County, et al. D. Montana (USA) 23 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Order to file conventional hard-copy source documents for every cited authority
Mykhal Lloyd Polite v. TitleMax of Arizona D. Arizona (USA) 23 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)

The Court noted prior use of hallucinated cases attributed to purported AI use and denied Plaintiff's motion for leave to amend as futile. The Court previously denied an earlier motion for failing to comply and because of hallucinated cases; here futility and procedural deficiencies warranted denial.

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Ann K. Cady, Beth L. Corning, and Caron G. Roesler v. Matthew C. O'Malley CA Wisconsin (USA) 23 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
United States v. Michael Shane DeBaere (2) W.D. Virginia (USA) 23 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Sidni Campbell v. John Campbell, Jr. CA Texas (USA) 22 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
McNeal v. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555; Safeway, Inc. D. Oregon (USA) 22 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Solomon A. Jones v. Kankakee County Sheriff's Department, et al. Seventh Circuit CA (USA) 21 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Warning
Volesky v. Department of Child Safety CA Arizona (USA) 21 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Peter J. Allsot, as next friend of B.P.L.A. v. Naseem Latif M.D. Florida (USA) 20 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Oluronke Briana Adusei v. Colleen Auer, et al. D. Arizona (USA) 20 January 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Warning