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 (831 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | — | |
| 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
|
|||||||||
| Siemens v. The Owners, Strata Plan EPS3699 | CRT (Canada) | 10 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
— | — | ||
|
Source: Courtready
|
|||||||||
| Nicole Levey-Wilson v The Trustee for Attivita Group Unit Trust | Fair Work Commission (Australia) | 10 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Misrepresented
Legal Norm
(1)
|
Application dismissed. | — | — | |
| Kim Elizabeth Harwell v. WestCare Nevada, Inc. | D. Nevada (USA) | 6 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | ChatGPT |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| 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 | — | — | |
| 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
|
|||||||||
| Nelson Lin v. The Honorable Jonathan H. Shim, et al. | S.D. New York (USA) | 6 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
— | — | ||
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Thabize c. Immobilière montérégienne IMR inc. | TAL (Canada) | 6 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Further filings barred without prior authorization | — | — | |
|
Source: Courtready
|
|||||||||
| Malik v Insurance Australia Limited | D. New South Wales (Australia) | 6 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Exhibits or Submissions
(1)
|
Adverse Costs Order | — | — | |
|
⚠ Alleged AI Use
|
|||||||||
| In the Matter of the Estate of Kuerschner | CA Arizona (USA) | 5 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Adverse Costs Order | 1 | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Lawand Hill v. Sloppy Vinyl, LLC, et al. | D. New Jersey (USA) | 5 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
False Quotes
Case Law
(3)
|
Motion to dismiss granted; warning | — | — | |
| Erin Gray v Attorney General of Canada | Federal Court (Canada) | 5 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
— | — | ||
| ELG20 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | Federal Circuit and Family Court (Australia) | 5 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | ChatGPT; OpenAI |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Admonishment | — | — | |
| Re A, B, C, D (Extension of assessment; Use of AI: hallucinations) | Family Court Bournemouth (UK) | 5 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1),
Legal Norm
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Ryan Adam Dixon v. MultiCare Health System | W.D. Washington (USA) | 4 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2),
Legal Norm
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| In the Matter of the Estate of CAROL M. CAREY | CA Washington (USA) | 3 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(4)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Adverse Costs Order | 1 USD | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| In re Lusine Hakhverdyan | C.D. California (Bankruptcy) (USA) | 3 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
— | — | ||
| Asey v. The Association of Justice Counsel | HRT Ontario (Canada) | 3 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2),
Doctrinal Work
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Makongo c. Montpetit | Québec (Canada) | 3 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(4)
|
Monetary Sanction | 800 CAD | — | |
| Hardy v. Whitaker | E.D. Michigan (USA) | 2 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(4)
|
Plaintiff's amended complaint dismissed with prejudice | — | — | |
| Fabian Antonio Thomas v. Officer Skylar Sillivent, et al. | E.D. Texas (USA) | 2 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Re Gary Man Kin Ng | Ontario SCJ (Bankruptcy) (Canada) | 2 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
— | — | ||
| Maruta v. Mahon | HRT Ontario (Canada) | 2 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
|
Source: Courtready
|
|||||||||
| In the Matter of the Estate of Arturo Lopez | CA Arizona (USA) | 27 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Horton v. Colvin | CA Alabama (USA) | 27 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Doctrinal Work
(1)
|
Affirmed in part; reversed in part; remanded (libel claim as to “meth house” reversed for further proceedings). | — | — | |
| White v. The Owners, Strata Plan BCS3946 | BC CRT (Canada) | 27 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Legal Norm
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
|
Source: Steve Finlay
|
|||||||||
| Perry v. Exeter Finance LLC | D. Arizona (USA) | 26 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| United States v. Robert Ponce, Jr. | D. Nevada (USA) | 26 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Volker v. Nygaard | SC North Dakota (USA) | 26 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Case dismissed with prejudice | — | — | |
|
The district court found Volker repeatedly submitted fictitious, AI-generated case citations and dismissed his action with prejudice as a Rule 11 sanction. The Supreme Court dismissed Volker's appeal as untimely, leaving the sanction and judgment in place. |
|||||||||
| Samuel K. v. Winsley Focia | CA California (USA) | 26 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1),
other
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Appeal dismissed; appellant to bear her own costs on appeal. | — | — | |
| Christina Leas Dunn v. Nelnet | W.D. Arkansas (USA) | 25 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Roosevelt Hunt, Jr. v. True Sky Federal Credit Union | D. Kansas (USA) | 25 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Straub v. Henderson | DCA Florida (USA) | 25 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied | — | Affirmed. | — | — | |
| Anthony Jama Hall v. Superior Court of Sacramento County | CA California (USA) | 25 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1),
Legal Norm
(1),
other
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Moses v. State | CATennessee (USA) | 25 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
|
The court observed that Moses' brief contained several citation errors and at least one fictitious case. The court stated it would disregard any legal authorities it could not verify as authentic and proceeded to decide the appeal on the merits, ultimately affirming the Claims Commission's dismissal. |
|||||||||
| Chapter Kris Jackson v. BOK Financial Corporation et al. (3) | N.D. Oklahoma (USA) | 24 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Struck filings; Monetary sanction | 405 USD | — | |
| Louis J. Blazy v. Department of State | CBCA (USA) | 24 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Exhibits or Submissions
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Formal admonishment | — | — | |
| Wells Fargo Bank v. Frances W. Dean | E.D. Texas (USA) | 24 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
Outdated Advice
Overturned Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Gail Fung v. Liberty University | W.D. Virginia (USA) | 24 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Ebony Sherisse Lucas v. Charles W. Scharf, et al. | W.D. North Carolina (USA) | 24 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(12)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Order to Show Cause | — | — | |
| Ryan Lee v. Capital One Bank et al. | D. Utah (USA) | 24 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied | — | Warning | — | — | |
| Kenneth Hawkins v. I.C. System, Inc. | S.D. Texas (USA) | 23 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Shawn Olali v. Ampex Brands, LLC | N.D. Texas (USA) | 23 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Gerow v. Falcone | D. Arizona (USA) | 20 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Zlatkin v. Gladwin County, et al. | E.D. Michigan (USA) | 20 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Juandel Pena and Martina Ruiz v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | S.D. Florida (USA) | 19 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||