Reed MidekeHaven't had a #ChatGPTLawyer on here for a while but here's a new achievement unlocked: Steven Feldman prompt-engineered his client's case all the way to a default judgment against them
Today's #ChatGPTLawyer (via @404mediaco*) ticks all the boxes:
✅ Files slop motion citing non-existent cases
✅ Denies using AI in slop-filled motion opposing sanctions for original slop
✅ Blames unnamed "staff"
✅ Eventually admits using AI and unconvincingly feigns remorse in sanctions hearing
✅ Gets sanctioned
Meanwhile, California appeals court fines #ChatGPTLawyer Amir Mostafavi ten grand for "filing a frivolous appeal, violating court rules, citing fake cases, and wasting the court’s time and the taxpayers money"
https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/09/chatgpt-lawyer-fine-ai-regulation/
Today's #AIIsGoingGreat #ChatGPTLawyer seemed intriguingly steampunk until I realized "Victorian" referred the Australian state, not the historical period https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-15/victoria-lawyer-apologises-after-ai-generated-submissions/105661208
If you predicted Mike Lindell's lawyers would #ChatGPTLawyer* themselves into sanctions, give yourself a gold star https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/07/mike-lindells-lawyers-fined-after-using-ai-in-brief-riddled-with-mistakes/
In today's #AIIsGoingGreat (HT @normative.bsky.social*) an intrepid #ChatGPTLawyer finally won based on an apparently slop-filled filing. Unfortunately for them, the opposing party noticed and appealed, to which our budding prompt engineer responded with… another slop-filled filing to the appeals court. The appeals court was not amused: "we impose a $2,500 frivolous motion penalty on Lynch, which is the most the law allows"
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ga-court-of-appeals/117442275.html#
* https://mastodon.social/@normative.bsk[email protected]/114795731130848546
There's a lot of "it'll stop if they throw a few #ChatGPTLawyer clowns in jail" but IMO, it's mostly not a deterrence problem. People doing this aren't thinking "oh, sure I could get a few thousand in sanctions and a bar referral, but it'll save some time so do it anyway." They appear to be caught up in the AI hype and negligently cutting corners. The ones who do get caught seem to recognize they are in big trouble, and AFAIK we haven't seen any repeat offenders (+/-pro se cranks)
In today's #AIIsGoingGreat (HT @davidgerard*) the England and Wales High Court points out that one could *technically* get life in prison for sufficiently advanced #ChatGPTLawyer-ing https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2025/1383.html (no, this is not going to happen, but they did see fit to mention it)
* https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/06/07/uk-high-court-to-lawyers-cut-the-chatgpt-or-else/
NYU law professor Stephen Gillers, channeling all of us in this WaPo #ChatGPTLawyer roundup: "I thought that after the first such incident made national news, there would be no more. But apparently the temptation is too great"
I think that last #ChatGPTLawyer sanction is a bit of a slap on the wrist, but this part not mentioned in the Ars article is nice: In addition paying the opposing party's attorney fees, they have to refund their own client who got screwed in the process
