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 (38 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 developed 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.

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Last updated: 12 May 2026
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)
Terrance Anthony Norris v. JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. E.D. New York (USA) 6 May 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Warning
Sana Hazina Butler v. Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC S.D. New York (USA) 30 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Mercy Wellington v. City of New York S.D. New York (USA) 30 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Rhonda L. H.-B. v. Commissioner of Social Security S.D. New York (USA) 27 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Exhibits or Submissions (2)
Warning; Refiling Allowed
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Avalon Holdings Corp. v. Guy Gentile S.D. New York (USA) 10 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Viral Bhagat v. Anuja Sharad Shah S.D. New York (USA) 6 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Evgeny Yaroshevsky v. Karlin et al. E.D. New York (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Gemini
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented other (1)
Recommended adverse costs order

R&R was adopted later on (see here).

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Beedemariam Kassaw v. Wal-Mart Corporation W.D. New York (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Brief Struck
Andrea K. Tantaros v. Fox News Network, LLC, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 27 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (7), Legal Norm (2)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Volokh
Fecteau v. Safety National Casualty Corporation S.D. New York (USA) 25 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Legal Norm (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
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
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
Cesareo v. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey D. New Jersey (USA) 31 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Ng v. AmGuard Insurance Company, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 29 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Report
Plaintiff's Memorandum in Opposition
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
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)
Hilpert v. 16 Judge SPV LLC SC New York (USA) 4 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Costs Order
Farrow v. John Does E.D. New York (USA) 3 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (3)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Saregama India Ltd. v. Bharath Aiyer, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 3 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1), Legal Norm (1)
John Doe v. James P. Ehrhard, Esq. S.D. New York (USA) 1 December 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Tameer Peak v. Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 26 November 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Plaintiff cautioned to disclose and verify any AI use
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Zero Point MGMT v. Chase Bank/JP Morgan Chase Co. S.D. New York (USA) 24 November 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Non-lawyer trustee barred from proceeding pro se
Yakov Magdalasov v. ByteDance Inc., TikTok Inc., and Maria Malvar S.D. New York (USA) 24 November 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1), Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Linda Oliver v. Christian Dribusch United States District Court, Northern District of New York (USA) 21 November 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Morris Gafni v. Rapid Foreclosure Refunds et al. SC New York (USA) 21 November 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Habib Miah v. Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 6 November 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Wheat v. Vichie SC New York (USA) 3 November 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Warning
Sehra Waheed v. SM 1 MMS, LLC, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 28 October 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
NewRez LLC v. Morton SC New York (USA) 2 October 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
No sanction
Mitchell Taylor Button & Dusty Button v. Juliet Doherty et al. S.D. New York (USA) 30 September 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Certification requirement for future AI-assisted filings.
Eric Andrew Perez v. Dr. Neil C. Evans, et al. S.D. New York (USA) 25 September 2025 Pro Se Litigant ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
In re Molina E.D. New York (Bankruptcy) (USA) 22 September 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
Order to sworn accuracy of citations
Jeramiah Brown v. Fat Dough Incorp., doing business as Dominos Pizza N.D. New York (USA) 17 September 2025 Pro Se Litigant ChatGPT
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Advani v. Appellate Term S.D. New York (USA) 1 August 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
False Quotes Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Case Law (6)
Warning

"Were Advani a lawyer, the Court would consider imposing sanctions on her. But in view of the fact that she is not a lawyer and of the dismissal of this case, the Court declines to pursue the matter further and merely warns Advani that presentation of false citations, quotations, and holdings in the future may indeed result in the imposition of sanctions."

Source: Jesse Schaefer
Rotonde v. Stewart Title Insurance Company New York (USA) 23 May 2025 Pro Se Litigant Implied Fabricated citations Warning
Rule v. Braiman N.D. New York (USA) 4 September 2024 Pro Se Litigant Implied Fake citations Warning
Zeng v. Chell S.D. New York (USA) 9 July 2024 Pro Se Litigant Implied Fabricated citations Warning