Kurelko v. Ballard

What the court wrote

Verbatim from the court's document (public domain). Ellipses mark omitted text; nothing is paraphrased.

Plaintiff’s first motion to disqualify contains several inaccurate or non-existent case citations and quotations. See [Dkt. 15.] “‘[I]t is improper and unacceptable for litigants—including pro se litigants—to submit ‘non-existent judicial opinions with fake quotes and citations.’” Fagan v. Barnhiser, Civ. No. 24-06012 (CCC), 2025 WL 2654994, at *2 (D.N.J. Sept. 17, 2025) (quoting Anonymous v. New York City Dep’t of Educ., Civ. No. 24-4232, 2024 WL 3460049, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. July 18, 2024) (further citations omitted)). “While some Courts have opted to sanction pro se litigants for this conduct, others have chosen to warn, rather than sanction, in these situations.” Id. (citation omitted). At this time, the Court will not impose sanctions. But plaintiff is now on notice: The Court “admonishes [p]laintiff for his improper conduct and warns that he will be subject to sanctions, including monetary penalties, should he [engage in similar conduct] again in the future.” Id.

Authorities cited in the passage: Fagan v. Barnhiser, Civ. No. 24-06012 (CCC), 2025 WL 2654994 (D.N.J. Sept. 17, 2025) · Anonymous v. New York City Dep’t of Educ., Civ. No. 24-4232, 2024 WL 3460049 (S.D.N.Y. July 18, 2024)