AI “Hallucinations” in Legal Filings Put Lawyers at Risk
UNITED STATES February 19, 2025 – AI’s growing role in legal research is under scrutiny as courts across the U.S. discipline lawyers for submitting fake case citations generated by AI tools.
A recent case involving personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan highlights the risks—two of its attorneys face possible sanctions after citing AI-generated fictitious case law in a lawsuit against Walmart.
One of the lawyers admitted in court filings that he used an AI program that “hallucinated” the cases, calling it an inadvertent mistake.
Legal experts warn that while AI can speed up research, it also fabricates information, a phenomenon known as “hallucination.” “When lawyers use AI to create citations without verifying them, that’s incompetence, pure and simple,”
Said Andrew Perlman, dean of Suffolk University’s law school. Courts have already fined attorneys, dismissed cases, and mandated AI training for those caught submitting fabricated case law.
Entrepreneur and commentator Mario Nawfal weighed in on the controversy, tweeting:
“LAWYERS BUSTED USING AI-GENERATED FAKE CASE LAW—COURTS CRACKING DOWN
AI “hallucinations” are wreaking havoc in courtrooms as lawyers cite fake cases, leading to sanctions, fines, and even job losses.
A federal judge threatened to discipline Morgan & Morgan lawyers after AI-generated bogus legal citations ended up in a Walmart lawsuit. From Michael Cohen’s legal debacle to New York lawyers fined $5,000, the AI legal mess is growing—and judges aren’t having it.
“The problem isn’t AI—it’s lazy lawyers who don’t fact-check. Incompetence just got an upgrade.”
🚨🇺🇸LAWYERS BUSTED USING AI-GENERATED FAKE CASE LAW—COURTS CRACKING DOWN
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 18, 2025
AI "hallucinations" are wreaking havoc in courtrooms as lawyers cite fake cases, leading to sanctions, fines, and even job losses.
A federal judge threatened to discipline Morgan & Morgan lawyers after… https://t.co/3rMpKWYDVz pic.twitter.com/fgHqscW0Ym
As AI becomes more prevalent in the legal field, the American Bar Association has reinforced that lawyers remain responsible for the accuracy of their filings. Harry Surden, a law professor at the University of Colorado’s law school who studies AI and the law, said he recommends lawyers spend time learning
“the strengths and weaknesses of the tools.”
He said the mounting examples show a “lack of AI literacy” in the profession, but the technology itself is not the problem.
“Lawyers have always made mistakes in their filings before AI,” he said. “This is not new.”
With more firms adopting AI, legal professionals must balance efficiency with due diligence—or risk career-ending consequences.
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