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
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
|||||||||
| 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 | — | — | |
| 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)
|
— | — | ||
| Gregory Hardy v. Whitaker, et al. | E.D. Mich. (Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division) (USA) | 2 March 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied | — | Amended Complaint dismissed with prejudice; Plaintiff permanently enjoined from filing new federal actions in the district without leave of court. | — | — | |
|
No AI-generated or fabricated legal citations, false quotations, or misrepresentations of precedent were identified in the court's opinion.
|
|||||||||
| 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)
|
— | — | ||
| 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 | — | — | |
| 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
|
|||||||||
| Evgeny Yaroshevsky v. Karlin et al. | E.D. New York (USA) | 23 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Gemini |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
other
(1)
|
Recommended adverse costs order | — | — | |
|
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
|
|||||||||
| Johnson v. Florida Department of Juvenile Justice et al | M.D. Florida (USA) | 19 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
|
Brief Struck | — | — | |
| In re: Marrett | D. Massachusetts (USA) | 19 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Kendle Mardis v. Dealer Loyalty Protection, Inc., et al. | D. Ohio (USA) | 18 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Shaerica L. Walder v. Experian Information Solutions | E.D. Texas (USA) | 18 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| David Martin v. ODS Community Dental Insurance et al. | D. Oregon (USA) | 18 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Nia Elan Davis v. American Airlines, et al. | D. Arizona (USA) | 17 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Alejandro Rios v. Puente Hills Ford | CA California (USA) | 17 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(2)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| HDO v MDF | CA Alberta (Canada) | 17 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| CHP 1010 McDowell et al. v. James Costello Turpen | D. Colorado (Bankruptcy) (USA) | 17 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| Landmark Development Group, LLC v. Lonnie LuPardus | CA Kansas (USA) | 13 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(3)
|
Arguments deemed waived | — | — | |
| Merz v. City of Kalama | W.D. Washington (USA) | 13 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
|
Merz corrected the Sorensen citation, saying he intended to cite Norg v. City of Seattle, 200 Wn.2d 749 (2023). The court declined to dismiss based solely on the inaccurate citation, noted the replacement authority was not closely analogous, and proceeded to dismiss the claims on the merits. |
|||||||||
| City of Dickinson v. Helgeson | SC North Dakota (USA) | 12 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(15)
|
500 USD | — | ||
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Seifert v. Nationstar Mortgage LLC, et al. | D. Idaho (USA) | 12 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
— | — | ||
| City of Dickinson v. Helgeson | SC North Dakota (USA) | 12 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(5)
|
Monetary sanction | 500 USD | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||
| Jones v. Family Court at Whangarei | Supreme Court (New Zealand) | 11 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Flora Chumpitaz-Morales v. Pamela J. Bondi | CA Tenth Circuit (USA) | 11 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Implied |
Misrepresented
Case Law
(2)
|
Warning | — | — | |
| Keith Powell v. Employment Dep. & First Congregational Church of Portland | CA Oregon (USA) | 11 February 2026 | Pro Se Litigant | Unidentified |
Fabricated
Case Law
(1)
False Quotes
Case Law
(1)
Misrepresented
Case Law
(1)
|
Monetary Sanction | 500 USD | — | |
|
Source: Jesse Schaefer
|
|||||||||