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 (721 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)
United States v. Farris CA 6th Cir. (USA) 3 April 2026 Lawyer Westlaw CoCounsel
Fabricated Doctrinal Work (1)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Counsel disqualified with no compensation for time served; Briefs locked; Bar Referral; Notice of Opinion
Source: Robert Freund
Kevin D. Turnage v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., et al. D. Arizona (USA) 2 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3), other (1)
Misrepresented Legal Norm (1)
Warning
Stanford v. Leinart Tex. App.—Fort Worth (USA) 2 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Appellate court admonished that citation of nonexistent AI-generated cases is unacceptable; no professional sanction imposed in this appeal.
The court identified that appellant Jason Stanford's appellate brief included a fabricated case citation—"Anderson v. Hood"—which the court determined does not exist and appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence. The court called citation of nonexistent AI-generated cases unacceptable and relied on this finding in criticizing Stanford's brief, but it did not impose a professional sanction related specifically to the fabricated citation in this appeal.
Saqib Kafeel v. Apple Inc., et al. N.D. California (USA) 1 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Patrick Hrdlichka v. Samantha Bengston CA Arkansas (USA) 1 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
In the Interest of W.G., Minor Child CA Iowa (USA) 1 April 2026 Pro Se Litigant Perplexity
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
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
Chelsea Montes v. Suns Legacy Partners LLC D. Arizona (USA) 31 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (6)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Adverse Costs Order; CLE; Notification
Source: Robert Freund
Edward C. Allen v. Western Governors University, et al. D. Nevada (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (4)
Misrepresented Case Law (3)
Case dismissed with prejudice; Adverse Costs Order 1 USD
Rushing v. Rushing et al. CA Minnesotta (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
CA greenlighted dismissal of case for AI misuse
Rosa Maria Cabrera Thompson v. Seattle Public Schools W.D. Washington (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Order to Show Cause
Federal Trade Commission v. James D. Noland, Jr., et al. D. Arizona (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Quandel Construction Group, Inc. v. Hunt Construction Group, Inc. S.D. Ohio (USA) 31 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Order to Explain
Heimkes v. Fairhope Motorcoach Resort Condominium Owners Association, Inc. S.D. Alabama (USA) 31 March 2026 Lawyer Cocounsel (Westlaw)
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Outdated Advice Overturned Case Law (1)
Reprimand; Order to file order in subsequent cases; Bar Referral; Adverse Costs Order 55597
Ford v. Sherwin-Williams D. Kansas (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning

The district court identified fabricated citations and quotations in the pro se plaintiff's filings (e.g., a cited Westlaw number and case caption that did not match the cited authority). The court suspected the citations were AI-generated, cautioned the plaintiff, and referenced D. Kan. Standing Order 26-01 warning of possible sanctions for fabricated or incorrect legal authority. No sanction was imposed in this Order.

Syreeta LaShawn McNeal v. Vera L. Calvin, et al. E.D. Missouri (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Show Cause Order
Nguedi v. General Dynamics Information Technology D. D.C. (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
False Quotes Case Law (3)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Hampton v. Lofton CA Arizona (1d) (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1), Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Staley v. City of Elba, et al. M.D. Alabama (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)

The court (adopting the Magistrate Judge's Recommendation) observed that Plaintiff's filings included citations to cases and purported quotations that do not exist; Defendants pointed this out in their filing. The observation was noted but did not result in sanctions; the case was dismissed for failure to state a claim.

Christopher A. Ambrose v. Bandy X. Lee D. Connecticut (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Misrepresented Case Law (2), other (1)
Warning
Jaii LeShawn Quinones v. Unknown Love, et al. E.D. Missouri (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Show Cause Order
Zavadovsky v. Republic of Austria, et al. D. D.C. (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (4)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Ella and Ramin LLC v. Travelers Insurance Company N.D. Illinois (USA) 31 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Danuta Dec v. Homeland Security 7th Cir. CA (USA) 30 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Source: Robert Freund
Jacobs v. Payward, Inc. D. Connecticut (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Admonishment
Yves Hector Vimegnon v. Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. D. Oregon (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Nicole Olbera, et al. v. Tiara Sykes CA Indiana (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Edward Reynolds v. Progressive Technologies, Inc. W.D. Tennessee (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
Megan E. Bryan v. Child Support Enforcement Agency, State of Hawaiʻi SC Hawaiʻi (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Warning
Shaun Fleck v. Del-One Federal Credit Union D. Oregon (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Warning
76 Route 6 Holdings Inc. v. Town of Yorktown, NY S.D. New York (USA) 30 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Admonishment
Beedemariam Kassaw v. Wal-Mart Corporation W.D. New York (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Brief Struck
Randel Edward Page, Jr. v. Apperson Crump W.D. Tennessee (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (3)
Warning
Williams v. Chicago Board Of Education N.D. Illinois (USA) 30 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Order to Explain
Souza v. City of Fitchburg D. Massachusetts (USA) 30 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Exhibits or Submissions (1)
Warning
Amtrust North America o/b/o Justin McGinness v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company SC New Jersey (USA) 27 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (4)
Monetary Sanction; Adverse Costs; CLE (recommended) 9000 USD
Source: Robert Freund
McCarthy v. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration CA Third Circuit (USA) 27 March 2026 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Reprimand; Notification to other courts and the National Disciplinary Data Bank
Source: Robert Freund
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
Pizzimenti v. City of Detroit, et al. E.D. Michigan (USA) 27 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (3)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Patrick C. Shaltry, I v. Brent Benzing, et al. E.D. Michigan (USA) 27 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Warning
Lauren K. Morgan v. Michael P. Whitticom SC Connecticut (USA) 27 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Warning

The court found the defendant's post-judgment motion likely generated with AI assistance and containing numerous fictitious or inapplicable citations. The court identified specific miscitation(s) and characterized the submission as 'riddled with fake citations and legal proposition[s].' The court declined to impose a sanction now but warned the pro se defendant that future similar filings may result in sanctions under Connecticut Practice Book § 4-2(b).

Source: Jesse Schaefer
William C. Maxwell v. Dakota Michael & Chelsey Smith S.D. Indiana (USA) 26 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Referral to Magistrate
Report
Plaintiff's Rebuttal
Anthony Wallace v. PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, et al. D. Nevada (USA) 26 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (5)
False Quotes Case Law (2)
Warning
Source: Jesse Schaefer
Mission Critical Project Services, Inc. GAO (USA) 26 March 2026 Lawyer Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Warning
Source: David Timm
The Advocates for Human Rights and L.H.M. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al. D. Minnesota (USA) 26 March 2026 Implied
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Report
ICE's Memorandum in Opposition
Curry v. Capital One Auto Finance E.D. North Carolina (USA) 26 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1), Legal Norm (1)
Leave to amend denied

The court found the plaintiff's proposed amended complaints included fabricated legal authorities — including fictitious provisions of a purported North Carolina Identity Theft Protection Act and other fabricated citations — and concluded the filings were likely drafted with AI. The court denied leave to amend as futile and constituted bad faith due to the fabricated citations, and granted defendant's motion to dismiss.

State National Insurance Company, Inc. v. Damon Treadwell, et al. N.D. Alabama (USA) 26 March 2026 Lawyer ChatGPT; OpenCase
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Public reprimand; Order Notification
Dixon v. MultiCare Health System W.D. Washington (USA) 26 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (2)
Misrepresented Case Law (2)
Warning
Baker v. Rastelli Foods LLC D. New Jersey (USA) 26 March 2026 Pro Se Litigant Implied
Fabricated Case Law (1)
False Quotes Case Law (1)
Order to provide PDF copies of cited case; Order to Show Cause
Coomer v. Lindell/MyPillow, Inc. (2) D. Colorado (USA) 25 March 2026 Lawyer Unidentified
Fabricated Case Law (1)
Misrepresented Case Law (1)
Show Cause Order