A Mississippi federal judge has sanctioned attorneys on both sides of a contract breach case for failing to prevent AI hallucinations in court filings, in what Senior Judge Sharion Aycock described as an “unusual scenario.” All four attorneys in Withers v. City of Aberdeen were found to have violated Rule 11 by failing to verify the legal authorities cited in their submissions. Attorney Kathleen M. Wilson, who said she was unaware that AI could produce hallucinated cases, an explanation the court found “insufficient and incredulous,” had her pro hac vice admission revoked, was barred from appearing in the district for two years, fined $2,500, and ordered to attend CLE. Kathryn Y. Williams received a matching two-year ban and $3,500 fine for “blindly relying” on an AI research tool. The other two attorneys were disqualified from the case and fined $1,000 each. The order will also be sent to relevant state bar associations.
Click here for the official article/release
Disclaimer
The Legal Wire takes all necessary precautions to ensure that the materials, information, and documents on its website, including but not limited to articles, newsletters, reports, and blogs (“Materials”), are accurate and complete. Nevertheless, these Materials are intended solely for general informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. They may not necessarily reflect the current laws or regulations. The Materials should not be interpreted as legal advice on any specific matter. Furthermore, the content and interpretation of the Materials and the laws discussed within are subject to change.
