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 (840 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 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)
Keirton Inc. v. Mersad Rahmanovic D. Colorado (Bankruptcy) (USA) 19 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Prisbrey v. Prisbrey CA Utah (USA) 19 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Kelly Bartholomew v. Clackamas County LUBA (Oregon) (USA) 19 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Petition struck
Forest Ridge Townhomes Corporation of Greensboro v. Heag Pain Management Cente et al. CA North Carolina (USA) 18 March 2026 Lawyer Perplexity.AI
Fabricated Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Davos Francois v. Vive Financial CA Florida (4th) (USA) 18 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Doiban v. Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission CA Oregon (USA) 18 March 2026 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Monetary Sanction 10000 USD

Petitioner’s opening brief contained at least 15 fabricated case citations and at least nine purported quotations that do not exist in Oregon case law; counsel acknowledged reliance on unverified search-engine results and some use of AI for an outline. Court capped sanctions at $10,000, required a replacement brief limited to accurately described authorities, and required certification that no generative AI was used to draft the brief and that cited authorities were verified.

Source: Volokh
Riddle Aggregates v. IRS Tax Court (USA) 18 March 2026 Expert Grammarly, ChatGPT, and Gemini
Fabricated Legal Norm (1)
Report withdrawn

See description and story here.

Sarah & Regina Alonso v. Jackson W.D. Washington (USA) 17 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Gregory Richmond and Lynne Richmond v. City of Newport, Washington CA Washington (d3) (USA) 17 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Regan Wilkes, et al. v. Canyons School District, et al. D. Utah (USA) 17 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Order to Show Cause
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Michael Wayne Singletary v. SWBC Mortgage Corporation et al. CA Fifth Circuit (USA) 17 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Zesiger v. Kansas et al. D. Kansas (USA) 17 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Shaquan Pridgen v. Amazon.com Services LLC D. New Jersey (USA) 16 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Esterra Commons Venture, LLC dba Verde Esterra Park v. Justin Norton CA Washington (d1) (USA) 16 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2), Legal Norm (2)
Warning
Domingo Beato-Estrella v. M. Arviza M.D. Pennsylvania (USA) 16 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Meriland Keith Dillard v. CBS Studios, Inc. C.D. California (USA) 16 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2), Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Factor in dismissing with prejudice
Whiting v. City of Athens, Tenn. CA Sixth Circuit (USA) 13 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1), Legal Norm (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (2), Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Adverse Costs Order; Monetary Sanction; Potential disciplinary proceedings 30000 USD
Report
Plaintiffs' brief
Source: Volokh
A.C. Appellant v. H.D. AND J.C. SC Pennsylvania (USA) 13 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Albert Taylor v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, et al. D. Nevada (USA) 13 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
DSME Construction Co., Ltd. ASBCA (USA) 13 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3), Legal Norm (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Brief struck
Source: David Timm
In re Scott Mitchell Obeginski CA Texas (9th) (USA) 12 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Order to attach copies of cited authorities affirmed
Source: Volokh
Suiter v. GM - General Motors, LLC W.D. Virginia (USA) 12 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Hartmann v. Davidson N.D. Texas (USA) 12 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Bolden v. Baltimore Gas & Electric Co (In re: Eric Chibueze Nwaubani) CA Fourth Circuit (USA) 11 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Public admonishment
Source: Volokh
Checks Aciek Ateny Nai v. National Asset Mortgage, LLC, et al. W.D. Michigan (USA) 11 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Legal Norm (2)
Order to Show Cause satisfied; court declined to impose Rule 11 sanctions.
Donte McClellon v. E. Rickard, Warden of FCI Otisville, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 11 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Samantha Roussell v. The Bank of New York Mellon CA Florida (USA) 11 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Kateryna Maslovska v. Ekaterina Shigabetdinova AC Illinois (USA) 11 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning (both parties)

Appellate court found briefs from the parties contained six AI-style citations (four from defendant, two from plaintiff) that either did not exist or did not support the propositions for which they were cited. The court cautioned compliance with the Illinois Supreme Court Policy on AI but imposed no sanctions and affirmed the judgment due to an inadequate record on appeal.

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Dillon v. Myles Stephenson, et al. W.D. Oklahoma (USA) 11 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Traver v. General Motors Financial Company Inc., et al. D. Massachusetts (USA) 11 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Warning
Hunter v. TForce Freight Incorporated D. Arizona (USA) 10 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied Warning
Brown v. State of Mississippi CA Mississippi (USA) 10 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
In re A.R. and N.R., Minors AC Illinois (USA) 10 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Tina Rose v. City of West Frankfort et al. S.D. Illinois (USA) 10 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant ChatGPT Warning
Helen Allen v. Cass Casper and Disparti Law Group N.D. Illinois (USA) 10 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Monetary Sanction 1500 USD
United States of America v. Lorenzio Reshaud Simmons E.D. North Carolina (USA) 10 March 2026 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (3)
Warning; Allowed to file corrected brief
Michael Platt v. Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana S.D. Indiana (USA) 10 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Brief Struck, Warning
Cartagena v. Dixon, Blackburn, and T.A. Blackburn Law, PLLC S.D. New York (USA) 10 March 2026 Lawyer Protégé (LexisNexis)
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Arno Kuigoua v. Adam Michael Sacks CA California (2nd) (USA) 10 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Warning
A.K. v. M.R. CA Indiana (USA) 10 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Slay v. Ross CA Georgia (USA) 9 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
Warning
M7 Indústria e Comércio de Compensados e Laminados v. U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 9 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Order to show cause

The Court found two quotations in the Plaintiffs' memorandum that do not appear in the cited federal opinions and ordered counsel to explain and certify review of all cited cases before deciding whether to impose further sanctions.

Kim Elizabeth Harwell v. WestCare Nevada, Inc. D. Nevada (USA) 6 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Kattom v. Bondi W.D. Louisiana (USA) 6 March 2026 Lawyer ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Monetary sanction 1000 USD
Hatch v. College Ave Student Loans N.D. Illinois (USA) 6 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Order to Show Cause
Zack Jones v. Target Corporation D. Oregon (USA) 6 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Recommended granting terminating sanctions and dismissal of the case

Recommendations are here, and were later adopted.

Andre Lamont Goddard, Jr. v. City University of Seattle D. District of Columbia (USA) 6 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (5)
Admonishment
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Dewayne Clark v. CoreCivic W.D. Oklahoma (USA) 6 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Admonishment
Sai Malena Jimenez-Fogarty v. Thomas Fogarty S.D. New York (USA) 6 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Hallucination treated it as non-existent
Gregory J. Van Etten v. Stephanie K. Fattman, et al. D. Massachusetts (USA) 6 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated other (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1), Legal Norm (1)
Warning

Warning

Source: Jesse Schaefer