News

⚖️ 🚨 Sanction Against a Lawyer for Using AI in Court

Using AI does not exempt one from verification

In British Columbia, a lawyer was ordered to pay the opposing party’s legal fees after citing two non-existent cases generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a court submission.

🔎 The Facts

📌 In a child custody dispute, a Vancouver-based lawyer, Cxxxx, submitted a legal motion in December 2023, relying on two legal precedents.
📌 The opposing lawyers, unable to find these cases, requested copies.
📌 That’s when the lawyer realized the cited cases did not exist ❗

🤖 Was AI the Culprit?

🔹 The lawyer had used ChatGPT to assist in compiling legal references.
🔹 However, the AI had simply fabricated the cases 🔥!

⚠️ The Consequences

📌 Reputational risk and loss of trust
✅ The lawyer removed the fake cases from the motion.

📢 Conclusion: AI in Law – A Tool, Not an Infallible Source

⚖️ This case highlights a fundamental truth: Generative AI does not guarantee data accuracy.
📌 Legal professionals must verify every source to avoid serious consequences.
📌 AI is a powerful tool, but not a reliable legal reference.