Courts on AI / Fabricated or misquoted citations
Gregory J. Van Etten v. Stephanie K. Fattman, et al.
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts · Federal district courts · MA · · No. Case 4:24-cv-40113-MRG · report and recommendation
District of Massachusetts on 2026-03-06 in Gregory J. Van Etten v. Stephanie K. Fattman, et al. found the self-represented party's motion contained three citation defects, including Ankenbrandt v. Richards and Seminole Tribe v. Florida, involving mischaracterized authority, incorrect statutory or rule text. The court warned the self-represented party to verify legal authorities before future filings.
- Disposition
- The court warned the self-represented party to verify legal authorities before future filings.
- Recorded conduct
- The self-represented party's motion contained three citation defects, including Ankenbrandt v. Richards and Seminole Tribe v. Florida, involving mischaracterized authority, incorrect statutory or rule text. — outcome: warning; actor: litigant in person
- Canonical record
- Incident tracker entry — verified outcome, regulator disposition and related rules
What the court wrote
Verbatim from the court's document (public domain). Ellipses mark omitted text; nothing is paraphrased.
[ECF No. 139 at 2]. This objection reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the statutory framework governing reports and recommendations and is without merit. 1 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1 It appears to the Court that Plaintiff relies on generative AI to make statements of law. However, the Court warns Plaintiff that generative AI does not necessarily generate accurate findings of law, can create incorrect or made-up citations, and should not be relied upon without review as a source 5 Case 4:24-cv-40113-MRG Document 149 Filed 03/06/26 Page 6 of 19 636(b)(1)(B) (“§ 636”), a district judge may refer dispositive matters, including motions to dismiss, to a magistrate judge for a report and recommendation, regardless of the parties’ consent Id.; see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(1) (discussing magistrates judges’ ability to issue R&R’s “without
Authorities cited in the passage: s use of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) to support the incorrect proposition that a magistrate · Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 · Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(1)