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 (912 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)
Matter of: KE System Services, Inc. GAO (USA) 22 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Smith v. Clarence Smith et al. N.D. New York (USA) 22 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Warning
Report
Plaintiff's Objection
Levy v. Google LLC W.D. Washington (USA) 22 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2), Exhibits or Submissions (1)
False Quotes Case Law (3)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Donovan v. Clark County Assessor Tax Court of Indiana (USA) 22 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Rathi & Rathi Federal Circuit and Family Court (Australia) 22 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Legal Norm (1)
Misrepresented Legal Norm (1)
Leytcorp v Mimbim Enterprises Trade Marks Office (Australia) 22 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Pasuengos v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Federal Circuit and Family Court (Australia) 22 December 2025 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Order to Show Cause

The applicant's written submissions relied upon multiple authorities that did not exist. The Minister drew this to the Court's attention; counsel for the applicant admitted an AI program generated the submissions and that the solicitors had not verified the cited cases. The Court adjourned parts of the proceeding, ordered the applicant's representative to explain how the submissions were generated, required submissions as to referral to the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner, and reserved costs and possible personal costs against the representative.

Obermann v. ICBC British Columbia CRT (Canada) 19 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)

"Mr. Obermann’s submissions refer to cases that do not exist or do not apply. I find the most likely explanation is that they are “hallucinations” generated by artificial intelligence. In AQ v. BW, 2025 BCCRT 907 at paragraph 16, a CRT vice chair found that CRT’s obligation to provide sufficient reasons did not require it to address arguments with no basis in law. I agree with this reasoning and do not address those cases. "

Billups v. Louisville Municipal School District N.D. Mississippi (USA) 19 December 2025 Lawyer Grok
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (3)
Counsel DQ'd; monetary sanction; obligatory audit of all past filings
Report
Plaintiff's Memorandum

The court also identified five other cases in which the same firm or attorney confessed having misused AI. This despite the attorneys attending CLE training

Disability Rights Mississippi v. Palmer Home for Children N.D Mississippi (USA) 19 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
False Quotes Case Law (5)
Monetary sanction; CLE requirement; notification to bar and other courts; attorney withdrawal. 20883 USD
Report
Plaintiff's Memorandum
Fantini v. WestRock Services, LLC D. New Jersey (USA) 19 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Report
Plaintiff's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment
Gavin Simpson v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC W.D. Virginia (USA) 19 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Legal Norm (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Nelligan O’Brien Payne v Amy French IP Office (Canada) 19 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Misrepresented Case Law (2), other (1)
Warning
Groux v. CSL CA Michigan (USA) 19 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Appeal dismissed
Patrick Joseph Groulx v CSL Limited CA Michigan (USA) 19 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Appeal dismissed
Robert Lafayette v. Alex Abrami et al Vermont SC (USA) 18 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Adverse Costs Order; Pre-Filing Injunction 7361 USD

Order to show cause is here.

M. [C] c/ CAF de la [Dpt CAF] TJ Périgueux (France) 18 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Christina Buenzli CA California (USA) 18 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (6)
False Quotes Case Law (3)
Gerou v. George, Whitten, and United States E.D. Wisconsin (USA) 18 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (3)
Warning
Edward Starski v. Chandler Holderness CA Appeals (USA) 18 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Arabyads Holding Limited v. Gulrez Alam Marghoob Alam ADGM (UAE) 18 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (4)
Mon 282508

MIO produced a prolix Defence containing multiple non-existent, miscited and misapplied authorities. The Court found AI-driven research produced hallucinatory results and that MIO failed adequately to verify authorities, amounting to reckless conduct warranting an indemnity costs order.

Wireless Investors LLC v. Semtech Incorporated, et al. D. Arizona (USA) 18 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Friend v. Serpa CA Florida (USA) 17 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Halpern v. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, et al. N.D. Illinois (USA) 17 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Russel Williams Home Services LLC v. Minleon International (USA) Limited LLC, et al. M.D. Pennsylvania (USA) 17 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Order to Show Cause
Burlingame v. Argo Private Client Group, Ltd. et al. S.D. New York (USA) 17 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
L.A. Housing Outreach, LLC v. Medoff CA California (USA) 17 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Reply brief struck; monetary sanction; State Bar referral 5070 USD

The court found that the majority of legal authorities in appellant counsel's reply brief were incorrect or did not support the propositions for which they were cited. The court struck the reply brief, imposed monetary sanctions of $5,070, and directed a copy of the opinion be forwarded to the State Bar.

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Angelica E. Cruz et al. v. United States of America C.D. California (USA) 16 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Order to Show Cause
In re Ricardo Andres Romeu CA Texas (USA) 16 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Taylor v. Prince George’s County, Maryland D. Maryland (USA) 16 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Report
Plaintiff's Response
Dorsey v. Jones Delaware C. Ch. (USA) 16 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Order to certify future filings re: AI
McMillian v. Zimmer US, Inc S.D. New York (USA) 16 December 2025 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated other (1)
Adverse Costs Order
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Michael Redwine v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America W.D. Virginia (USA) 16 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Holmes Family Trust v. Multnomah County Assessor Oregon Tax Court (USA) 16 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Pakuza v Workers' Compensation Regulator Queensland IRC (Australia) 16 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Liza Gardner v. Sean Combs, et al. D. New Jersey (USA) 15 December 2025 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Monetary fine; Bar Referral; Order to serve order to Client 6000 USD

Counsel had already been sanctioned in different case, and professed having gone through CLE on generative AI.

Source: Robert Freund
Sayali Kulkarni & Abhijit Kulkarni v. Merit Systems Protection Board CA Federal Circuit (USA) 15 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Affirmed the Board; granted motions to strike the Kulkarnis' informal reply briefs containing the false citations/quotes
Report
Plaintiff's Informal Brief
Roll Q/25/0025 Gent (Belgium) 15 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Hearing on possible sanction
Braica v. Frankowski (Anthony Braica v. Tom Frankowski) D. Connecticut (USA) 15 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (7)
Outdated Advice Overturned Case Law (1)
Briefs struck; warning
Christina Garcia v. Atwater Elementary Teachers Association California PERB (USA) 15 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Warning
Harvey v. Torrent Leasing & U.S. Bank D. Nevada (USA) 15 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant ChatGPT
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Robert W. Williams, Sr. v. Assistant District Attorney John R. Canavan, et al. M.D. Pennsylvania (USA) 15 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Howell Management Services, LLC v. Vashisht-Rota CA California (USA) 15 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Fine and adverse costs order 64235 USD
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Johnson / Estate of Fisher v. City of Annapolis D. Maryland (USA) 13 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1), Exhibits or Submissions (1)
(Attorney was dismissed by its client)
Report
City's Motion
Source: Volokh
Couvrette v. Wisnovsky Oregon (USA) 12 December 2025 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Briefs struck; Monetary sanction; Adverse costs order; claims dismissed with prejudice 15500 USD
Report
Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Judgments

Order to show cause is here.

Troy Allen Berg v. Mandi Marie Wondra D. Oregon (USA) 12 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Outdated Advice Overturned Case Law (2)
Warning
Jordan v. Beskrone (In re Prehired LLC) D. Delaware (Bankruptcy) (USA) 12 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Second Amended Complaint dismissed
Source: Jesse Schaefer
A.M., F.A. c/ C.N.H y otros CA Río Negro (Argentina) 12 December 2025 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (5)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Admonishment
McLain v. Board of County Commissioners of Sedgwick County, Kansas, et al. D. Kansas (USA) 11 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Report
Plaintiff's Motion
Preston House v. TH Foods, Inc. D. Nevada (USA) 11 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Admonishment