A Utah-based lawyer, Richard Bednar, was sanctioned by the Utah Court of Appeals after submitting a court brief containing false citations generated by ChatGPT, including reference to a fictitious case. The errors were discovered by opposing counsel, and Bednar acknowledged the mistake, apologizing and offering restitution. The law clerk responsible, a recent law school graduate, was terminated. The court emphasized the ongoing responsibility of attorneys to verify the accuracy of all filings regardless of the use of AI tools. Bednar has been ordered to pay attorney fees, refund his client, and donate to a legal non-profit.
Related articles:
Lawyers and the ‘Hallucinations’ of AI Legal Research
AI and ChatGPT Raise Ethical and Legal Questions in US Courts
