Incident Tracker

Zhang v Chen, 2024 BCSC 285

costs-order

The first reported Canadian case of AI-hallucinated citations: a Vancouver family lawyer cited two ChatGPT-invented cases in a notice of application, was ordered to pay costs personally, had her other files reviewed, and faced a Law Society of British Columbia investigation.

Date of decision/order

2024-02-20

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

Jurisdiction

CANADA

AI tool

ChatGPT

Conduct

Counsel in a family-law matter cited two non-existent cases generated by ChatGPT in a notice of application; the fabrications were discovered by opposing counsel.

Consequence

See outcome

Regulatory outcome

Law Society of British Columbia: LSBC investigation into the lawyer's conduct followed the judgment; the court ordered costs against the lawyer personally and a review of her other court files.