A personal injury law firm recently warned its attorneys about the dangers of relying on artificial intelligence after two of its lawyers faced potential sanctions for submitting fictitious case citations. The incident, which unfolded in a federal court in Wyoming, involved a lawsuit against Walmart over an allegedly defective hoverboard toy.
One of the attorneys admitted in court that he had used an AI tool that fabricated legal precedents, calling the mistake unintentional. The judge has yet to determine whether disciplinary action will be taken.
This case is one of several in recent years where courts have reprimanded or penalized lawyers for submitting AI-generated legal fabrications. At least seven cases across the country have involved similar missteps, highlighting the risks of integrating AI into legal work without proper safeguards.
Generative AI tools, which some law firms have adopted to streamline research and drafting, can produce convincing but entirely false legal references—known as “hallucinations.” Despite their efficiency, these tools lack the ability to verify factual accuracy, making unchecked reliance on them a liability.
Ethical guidelines require lawyers to ensure the accuracy of their filings, and legal experts warn that failing to do so—regardless of intent—can amount to professional negligence. The American Bar Association has reminded attorneys that their duty to uphold factual accuracy extends even to AI-generated material.
This is not the first time AI misuse has led to legal troubles. In 2023, a federal judge in Manhattan fined two lawyers $5,000 for citing non-existent cases in a lawsuit against an airline. Similar issues have arisen in cases involving former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen and a Texas attorney who was ordered to take a course on AI after citing fabricated rulings.
The legal community is grappling with the balance between technological advancement and professional responsibility. Experts emphasize that AI itself is not the problem—rather, it’s the lack of understanding about how to use it effectively. As AI becomes more ingrained in the legal field, attorneys are being urged to educate themselves on its limitations to avoid embarrassing and costly mistakes.
