Court incidents, official rule revisions and analysis in United States (federal), as they enter the record. Researched and drafted with AI assistance; verified against primary sources and edited by Cognesio LLP. The linked official documents are the record — our summaries are not the law and are not legal advice.https://safelegalai.comen-gbCC BY 4.0 — SafeLegalAI, published by Cognesio LLPhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/ai-chat-logs-as-evidence-in-courthttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/ai-chat-logs-as-evidence-in-court17 rulings and opinions on AI privilege, discovery and AI-generated evidence, 2024 to 2026, coded by question, plus what five note-taker vendors say they keep.Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleukus-federalus-stateeuvendor:openai-chatgptvendor:anthropic-claudevendor:microsoft-copilothttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/consumer-ai-legal-chatbots-on-the-recordhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/consumer-ai-legal-chatbots-on-the-record12 consumer legal-AI services on one schema, 41 self-represented rows in the incident tracker, two docket studies of AI pro se filings, and the regulators.Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleukus-federalus-stateinternationalvendor:openai-chatgpthttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/douglas-deutsche-bank-ai-citations-dc-appeals-2026-09https://safelegalai.com/analysis/douglas-deutsche-bank-ai-citations-dc-appeals-2026-09The D.C. Court of Appeals struck a Deutsche Bank appellee brief after counsel used Google's generative AI search tool without verifying four nonexistent cases.Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleus-federalus-statehttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/lacey-v-state-farm-ai-sanctionshttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/lacey-v-state-farm-ai-sanctionsA C.D. Cal. Special Master sanctioned Ellis George and K&L Gates $31,100 after an AI-drafted brief cited fake cases and was re-filed without disclosure.Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/lpc-commercial-ar-razzaaq-phantom-quotes-virginia-2026-09https://safelegalai.com/analysis/lpc-commercial-ar-razzaaq-phantom-quotes-virginia-2026-09The Virginia Court of Appeals ordered counsel to take AI or appellate-practice CLE after an appellee brief attributed 25 phantom quotations to Virginia cases.Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleus-federalus-statehttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/may-judges-use-ai-explainerhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/may-judges-use-ai-explainerThe regulation map records 39 country answers on judicial AI use: binding rules, guidance, proposals and one case-law answer.Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleukirelandus-federalcanadaaustraliaindiainternationalotherhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/must-lawyers-verify-ai-output-explainerhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/must-lawyers-verify-ai-output-explainerAcross 130 country records, 50 have a binding, guidance, proposed or case-law answer on verification of AI output.Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleukirelandus-federalus-statecanadaaustraliaindiasingaporeinternationalotherhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/sullivan-cromwell-ai-hallucinations-prince-globalhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/sullivan-cromwell-ai-hallucinations-prince-globalSullivan & Cromwell disclosed AI-hallucinated citations in a Chapter 15 emergency motion in April 2026. The letter, the 28-citation count, and the docket since.Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/newsletter/this-week-in-legal-ai-safety-2026-36https://safelegalai.com/newsletter/this-week-in-legal-ai-safety-2026-36Issue 1: 50 incidents added, the SRA's misuse-of-AI warning notice, Ireland's Practice Direction HC 142, deferred EU high-risk duties, 128 tools on record.Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleukirelandus-federalus-stateeusouth-africainternationalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/booker-v-krogerhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/booker-v-krogerThe US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia fined employment plaintiff's lawyer Christopher Johnson USD 8,000, payable to the court's sanctions fund, for citing four nonexistent or misrepresented authorities. Judge Grimberg found his show-cause response evasive and an attempt to shift blame to opposing counsel, required proof of ethics and technology CLE, and reserved further sanctions. Primary source: Booker v. The Kroger Co., No. 1:26-cv-02006-SDG, ECF 66 (N.D. Ga. 28 Aug 2026), sanctions order (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.gand.358237/gov.uscourts.gand.358237.66.0.pdfFri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/adams-v-matrix-providershttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/adams-v-matrix-providersThe US District Court for the District of Colorado fined counsel Ms Pearson USD 1,000 after her brief cited a nonexistent case and attributed a quotation to Justice Scalia from an opinion dated 2020, four years after his death. Judge Sweeney's order is on CourtListener RECAP; the available summary does not record whether counsel admitted using generative AI. Primary source: Adams v. Matrix Providers, No. 1:23-cv-01996, ECF 134 (D. Colo. 27 Aug 2026), order (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cod.226664/gov.uscourts.cod.226664.134.0.pdfThu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/ashmeade-v-amazonhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/ashmeade-v-amazonIn the Southern District of New York, self-represented plaintiff Keith Ashmeade cited two nonexistent Southern District decisions while litigating discovery issues against Amazon. Magistrate Judge Reznik identified the false citations, warned that future filings with false or nonexistent legal authorities may draw sanctions, and tied the warning to Rule 11 duties for pro se litigants. Primary source: Ashmeade v. Amazon.com Services LLC, No. 7:23-cv-04331-KMK-VR (S.D.N.Y. 27 Aug 2026), order PDF via Charlotin database — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2992/Ashmeade_v._Amazon_USA_27_August_2026.pdfThu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/james-v-conleyhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/james-v-conleyIn the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, a magistrate judge found that plaintiff's Fifth Amended Complaint pleaded nonexistent police-training publications that counsel conceded were AI hallucinations. The report recommended denying the defendants' Rule 11 motion on safe-harbour grounds but referring the signing attorneys to the court's attorney-grievance committee; the district judge's ruling is pending. Primary source: James v. Conley, No. 1:23-cv-24467, ECF 261 (S.D. Fla. 27 Aug 2026), report and recommendation (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.658251/gov.uscourts.flsd.658251.261.0.pdfThu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/williams-v-dfw-airport-boardhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/williams-v-dfw-airport-boardIn the Northern District of Texas, plaintiffs' counsel cited nonexistent and materially inapposite cases while trying to defeat qualified immunity. Judge Pittman called the effort borderline sanctionable, warned that generative-AI misrepresentations of law may trigger Rule 11 sanctions, and dismissed the civil-rights claims against the airport-board defendants. Primary source: Williams v. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board, No. 4:26-cv-00433-P (N.D. Tex. 27 Aug 2026), memorandum opinion and order PDF via Charlotin database — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2990/Willia_Fh3WTMr._Dallas-Fort_Worth_International_Airport_Board_et_al_USA_27_August_2026.pdfThu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/johnson-v-nationstarhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/johnson-v-nationstarIn the District of Maryland, self-represented plaintiff Darrin Johnson again cited a case the court could not locate, after an earlier Rule 11 warning. Judge Rubin said the authority appeared to be hallucinated from generative AI, dismissed the action without prejudice and warned that continued use of hallucinated authorities risks sanctions. Primary source: Johnson v. Nationstar Mortgage LLC, No. 1:25-cv-00855-JRR (D. Md. 26 Aug 2026), memorandum opinion PDF via Charlotin database — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2949/Johnson_v._Nationstar_Mortgage_LLC_USA_26_August_2026.pdfWed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/potterf-v-wesselshttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/potterf-v-wesselsIn the Eastern District of Michigan, self-represented plaintiffs admitted using artificial intelligence to draft objections with fictitious or erroneous citations and an invented Supreme Court quotation. Judge Leitman denied relief based on the defective objections and warned that future papers with false, hallucinated or inaccurate citations could bring sanctions, including dismissal. Primary source: Potterf v. Wessels, No. 1:26-cv-10860-MFL-PTM (E.D. Mich. 26 Aug 2026), order PDF via Charlotin database — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2952/Potterf_v._Wessels_USA_26_August_2026.pdfWed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/shelbert-v-baxter-internationalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/shelbert-v-baxter-internationalIn the Northern District of Illinois, Tyler Shelbert's lawyer filed a motion to strike that relied on a false reading of Instituto Nacional de Comercializacion Agricola. Judge Hunt inferred AI-assisted drafting, denied the motion, admonished counsel and warned both sides that false or hallucinated citations may lead to sanctions. Primary source: Shelbert v. Baxter International, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-06266 (N.D. Ill. 26 Aug 2026), order PDF via Charlotin database — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2951/Shelbert_v._Baxter_International_USA_26_August_2026.pdfWed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/turgeon-v-fhlmchttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/turgeon-v-fhlmcIn the District of New Hampshire, self-represented debtor Noella Turgeon appealed a bankruptcy order that struck her objection after false, hallucinated citations. Judge McAuliffe held the bankruptcy court acted within its discretion, affirmed the order, and left the struck objection in place without imposing a separate monetary sanction. Primary source: Turgeon v. FHLMC, No. 1:25-cv-00510-SM-TSM (D.N.H. 26 Aug 2026), order PDF via Charlotin database — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2947/Re_Turgeon_USA_26_August_2026.pdfWed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/ruiz-v-magellan-financialhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/ruiz-v-magellan-financialAfter finding two fabricated Ninth Circuit quotations in a fee-opposition brief, the US District Court for the District of Arizona learned that plaintiff's counsel had used ChatGPT and uncovered further invented quotations in three more briefs. Judge Lanza found ethical violations and, per the Charlotin database coding, issued a formal public reprimand rather than a monetary fine. Primary source: Ruiz v. Magellan Financial & Insurance Services, No. CV-23-02090-PHX-DWL, Doc. 179 (D. Ariz. 24 Aug 2026), final order (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.azd.1348340/gov.uscourts.azd.1348340.179.0.pdfMon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/disruptive-resources-v-ballistic-barrierhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/disruptive-resources-v-ballistic-barrierIn a patent case in the US District Court for the District of Delaware, plaintiff's counsel promptly disclosed that a Strongsuit-assisted claim-construction brief contained errors. Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves discharged the show-cause order without Rule 11 sanctions, distinguishing lawyers who defend hallucinations from those who self-report, while warning that future AI mistakes in the case would be sanctioned. Primary source: Disruptive Resources, LLC v. Ballistic Barrier Products Inc., D.I. 115 (D. Del. 20 Aug 2026), order discharging show cause (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.85202/gov.uscourts.ded.85202.115.0.pdfThu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/full-standard-properties-v-sj-6070https://safelegalai.com/tracker/full-standard-properties-v-sj-6070In the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge Freeman discharged an order to show cause against plaintiff's counsel who had cited nonexistent cases, after counsel reimbursed USD 14,500 in fees the fabricated citations had caused the opposing party. The court's overall fee award in the matter was USD 85,980.70. Primary source: Full Standard Properties v. SJ 6070, No. 5:25-cv-09451, ECF 41 (N.D. Cal. 20 Aug 2026), order (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.459086/gov.uscourts.cand.459086.41.0.pdfThu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/guerra-quezada-v-united-stateshttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/guerra-quezada-v-united-statesIn consolidated appeals by an uncle and nephew claiming US citizenship, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit identified fabricated quotations and misattributed authorities in both briefs, including language attributed to Ng Fung Ho v. White found in no opinion. It treated the affected arguments as forfeited and warned counsel that FRAP 28 prohibits citing nonexistent authority. Primary source: Guerra-Quezada v. United States, Nos. 25-10372, 25-10555, Doc. 71-1 (5th Cir. 14 Aug 2026), opinion (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2900/Quezada_v._USA_USA_14_August_2026.pdfFri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/chapman-v-city-of-pricevillehttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/chapman-v-city-of-pricevilleThe US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, the same district that sanctioned Butler Snow in Johnson v. Dunn, publicly reprimanded civil-rights plaintiff's lawyer Scott Morro for a brief containing two fabricated cases and seven invented quotations. He must serve the order on every judge before whom he appears, and the court directed publication as a warning. Primary source: Chapman v. City of Priceville, No. 5:26-cv-84-HDM, Doc. 36 (N.D. Ala. 12 Aug 2026), sanctions order (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.alnd.198470/gov.uscourts.alnd.198470.36.0.pdfWed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-bfi-waste-systemshttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-bfi-waste-systemsThe US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee publicly reprimanded attorney Louis Ringger III and ordered him to pay USD 1,500 to the Clerk after a brief in landfill litigation quoted cases that did not say what was claimed. The court kept the sanction low because counsel accepted responsibility and had already imposed firm-wide verification measures. Primary source: In re BFI Waste Systems of Tennessee, 2026 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175482 (M.D. Tenn. 6 Aug 2026), order (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2765/In_re_BFI_Waste_Sys._of_Tenn._2026_U.S._Dist._LEXIS_175482.PdfThu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-booker-d-connhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-booker-d-connThe US District Court for the District of Connecticut formally admonished a self-represented bankruptcy appellant under Rule 11 after finding six nonexistent cases and invented quotations in his briefs, despite his claim to have cross-checked four AI platforms. Judge Vernon Oliver dismissed the appeal on the merits and affirmed the bankruptcy court's order. Primary source: Booker v. U.S. Bank N.A., No. 3:25-cv-01205-VDO, Doc. 33 (D. Conn. 5 Aug 2026), ruling (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ctd.166098/gov.uscourts.ctd.166098.33.0.pdfWed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/barteca-v-tacobarnhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/barteca-v-tacobarnIn a restaurant trade-dress dispute, the US District Court for the District of Connecticut sanctioned defense counsel USD 3,500 and referred him for discipline after a brief polished with Open Law, Claude and ChatGPT misquoted Ashcroft v. Iqbal and other cases. Judge Vernon Oliver said using AI does not diminish counsel's duty to verify every cited authority. Primary source: Barteca Holdings LLC v. Tacobarn Newtown LLC, No. 3:26-cv-00250, ECF 43 (D. Conn. 4 Aug 2026), Order Imposing Sanctions (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2763/Barteca_v._Tacobarn_USA_4_August_2026.pdfTue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/de-ford-v-koutoulashttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/de-ford-v-koutoulasIn the securities class action over the 'Let's Go Brandon' meme coin, the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered default judgment against promoter James Koutoulas as a terminating sanction. Judge Paul Byron cited fabricated legal authority in at least eight filings, defiance of contempt findings and class-notice orders, and vexatious litigation. Primary source: De Ford v. Koutoulas, No. 6:22-cv-652-PGB-DCI, Doc. 682 (M.D. Fla. 4 Aug 2026), order entering default judgment (CourtListener RECAP) — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flmd.400396/gov.uscourts.flmd.400396.682.0.pdfTue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/forney-v-township-of-caryhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/forney-v-township-of-caryHaving warned the same lawyer in a prior action, the chief judge of the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina used inherent authority to order him to pay the Town of Cary's fees for a brief built on a nonexistent citation and misleadingly truncated authority, and referred him to the North Carolina State Bar. Primary source: Forney v. Township of Cary, 2026 WL 2439988 (E.D.N.C. 3 Aug 2026), order (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2921/Damon_Forney_Plaintiff_v_Township_of_Cary_North_Carolina_USA_3_August_2026.pdfMon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-brian-mitchell-usptohttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-brian-mitchell-usptoThe US Patent and Trademark Office's Office of Enrollment and Discipline publicly reprimanded California patent attorney Brian Mitchell, whose AI-drafted claim-construction chart in a federal patent case cited nonexistent portions of the patent's intrinsic record. Reported as the USPTO's first disciplinary order predicated on generative-AI misuse, it treats hallucinated citations to a specification and file history as an ethics violation. Primary source: In re Mitchell, Proceeding No. D2026-16, final order (USPTO OED, redacted PDF) — http://foiadocuments.uspto.gov/oed/Mitchell-Order-D2026-16-Redacted.pdfMon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/lichfield-v-kublerhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/lichfield-v-kublerAffirming dismissal of a defamation suit over a Netflix documentary, the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit noted that the appellant's brief cited a case that does not exist and misdescribed two others. Assuming generative AI was responsible, the court issued a published admonishment but stopped short of the sanctions it imposed in Amarsingh v. Frontier Airlines. Primary source: Lichfield v. Kubler, No. 25-4135 (10th Cir. 27 Jul 2026), published opinion (Tenth Circuit) — https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/opinions/010111477318.pdfMon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/ledoux-v-outliershttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/ledoux-v-outliersIn a Western District of Washington product-liability suit, Judge Tiffany Cartwright fined plaintiff's counsel USD 3,000 for dozens of ChatGPT- and Claude-generated false citations, calling the conduct tantamount to bad faith. On 18 August 2026 the court excluded three expert reports that relied on the same AI-fabricated academic citations and granted summary judgment dismissing the case. Primary source: LeDoux v. Outliers, Inc., ECF 265 (W.D. Wash. 24 Jul 2026), Order on Sanctions (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2706/Ledoux_v._Outliers_USA_24_July_2026.pdfFri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/couvrette-v-wisnovskyhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/couvrette-v-wisnovskyOregon's ~$110,000 AI-sanctions case: terminating sanctions for fifteen fake cases and eight fabricated quotations, and why the headline figure is an aggregate.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleus-federalus-statehttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/us-federal-court-ai-standing-ordershttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/us-federal-court-ai-standing-ordersNo national US rule governs AI in filings. A primary-sourced registry of representative federal judges' standing orders: certify, disclose, or prohibit.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/mata-v-avianca-the-case-that-started-it-allhttps://safelegalai.com/analysis/mata-v-avianca-the-case-that-started-it-allTwo New York attorneys, six ChatGPT-invented cases, and a $5,000 sanction: the June 2023 ruling that created the legal AI hallucination era.Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTarticleus-federalus-statevendor:openai-chatgpthttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-rosslyn2016https://safelegalai.com/tracker/in-re-rosslyn2016The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas held petitioning creditors' counsel in civil contempt and found a Rule 9011 violation after four motions to quash contained AI-hallucinated quotations and miscited authorities. Counsel and the creditors must jointly pay the Chapter 7 trustee USD 29,877 in fees, and counsel must complete six hours of generative-AI CLE. Primary source: In re Rosslyn2016, LLC, No. 25-34507, ECF 312 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. 14 Jul 2026), order (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2628/In_re_Rosslyn_USA_14_Jly_2026.pdfTue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/akerlund-v-atlas-airhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/akerlund-v-atlas-airIn a published opinion affirming dismissal of pilots' vaccine-mandate claims, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit condemned attorney Anthony Sabatini for briefs replete with fake and hallucinated citations, including replacement citations that were themselves fabricated, and referred him to the court's Committee on Lawyer Qualifications and Conduct. Primary source: Akerlund v. Atlas Air, Inc., No. 24-11033 (11th Cir. 10 Jul 2026), published opinion (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2592/Akerlund_et_al._v._Altas_Air_Inc._USA_10_July_2026.pdfFri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/cartagena-v-dixon-blackburnhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/cartagena-v-dixon-blackburnA magistrate judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York struck a filing by attorney Tyrone Blackburn after finding 17 instances of quotation marks around language absent from the cited cases, part of a multi-district pattern of fabricated quotations, and folded the new violations into a pending referral to the court's Grievance Committee. Primary source: Cartagena v. Dixon, No. 1:25-cv-03552 (S.D.N.Y.), CourtListener docket (order itself not retrieved) — https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69979017/cartagena-v-dixon/Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/parnell-v-florida-dochttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/parnell-v-florida-docOn the same day as Akerlund v. Atlas Air, another panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment against a prison employee and referred his lawyer for discipline after a reply brief cited two nonexistent cases and five invented quotations. The court noted Florida's new Rule 2.515(d)(2) certification requirement for cited authorities. Primary source: Parnell v. Florida Department of Corrections, No. 25-11166 (11th Cir. 10 Jul 2026), published opinion (Charlotin database archive PDF) — https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/2594/Parnell_v._Florida_Dep_Cor._USA_10_July_2026.pdfFri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-fre-707-machine-generated-evidencehttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-fre-707-machine-generated-evidenceA proposed United States federal evidence rule that would subject machine-generated evidence, including AI output offered without an expert, to the reliability standards of Rule 702. Public comment closed 16 February 2026. In June 2026 the Standing Committee declined to recommend adoption and returned the rule for further study alongside deepfakes; the earliest effective date is after 1 December 2027. Primary source: US Judicial Conference — Returned for further study (Standing Committee, June 2026) — https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/2026-06_standing_committee_meeting_agenda_book_final.pdfThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTregulationus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/lnu-v-blanchehttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/lnu-v-blancheThe Ninth Circuit disciplined attorneys Mike Singh Sethi and William Rounds for filing immigration briefs with nonexistent cases, misattributed quotations and gross misrepresentations from AI hallucinations, then denying AI was the source. The panel suspended both from practice before the court for six months, fined each $2,500, and served its order on the State Bar of California. Primary source: Lnu v. Blanche, No. 24-4790 (9th Cir. 3 Jun 2026), disciplinary order (Paez, Bea, Forrest, JJ.) — CourtListener opinion text (read) — https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10869591/lnu-v-blanche/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/sullivan-cromwell-prince-globalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/sullivan-cromwell-prince-globalIn the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, Sullivan & Cromwell disclosed on 18 April 2026 that its emergency Chapter 15 motion in In re Prince Global Holdings contained AI-hallucinated citations, withdrew it and filed a corrected motion. Provisional relief followed on 23 April; no sanctions entry appears on the public docket through 10 August 2026. Primary source: Letter from Andrew G. Dietderich (Sullivan & Cromwell) to Chief Judge Glenn with Schedule A of corrections, ECF 25 (18 April 2026), via CourtListener RECAP — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysb.334560/gov.uscourts.nysb.334560.25.0.pdfSat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-md-fla-berger-ai-standing-orderhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-md-fla-berger-ai-standing-orderA standing order issued 2 April 2026 by Judge Wendy Berger of the Middle District of Florida governing AI-assisted filings. Counsel and self-represented parties are responsible for the accuracy of any AI-generated content; misrepresenting its accuracy can lead to sanctions up to dismissal or default judgment and referral to the state bar or the court's grievance committee. Primary source: M.D. Fla. (Berger) — Original — https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/sites/flmd/files/documents/flmd-berger-standing-order-on-ai.pdfThu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTregulationus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/mccarthy-v-deahttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/mccarthy-v-deaThe US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reprimanded an attorney whose opening brief contained AI-hallucinated case summaries and a nonexistent authority that he failed to correct. As its first AI-hallucination case, the court withheld monetary sanctions but warned that future violators may face them. Primary source: Stephen McCarthy v. DEA (3d Cir., 27 Mar 2026), No. 24-2704 — CourtListener — https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10826367/stephen-mccarthy-v-dea/Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/couvrette-v-wisnovskyhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/couvrette-v-wisnovskyIn the US District Court for Oregon, lead counsel Stephen Brigandi filed three briefs with fifteen non-existent cases and false quotations, then concealed them. Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke dismissed the claims, imposed $15,500 in sanctions plus $94,704 in fees, and referred Brigandi to the Oregon State Bar. Primary source: Couvrette v. Wisnovsky, No. 1:21-cv-00157-CL (D. Or.), sanctions Opinion and Order (ECF 215, 12 Dec 2025) — CourtListener/RECAP PDF — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ord.158388/gov.uscourts.ord.158388.215.0.pdfFri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-sd-ohio-graham-genai-standing-orderhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-sd-ohio-graham-genai-standing-orderA standing order issued 21 October 2025 by Judge James Graham of the Southern District of Ohio. Any filing prepared with generative AI must be accompanied by a declaration disclosing that AI was used, identifying the platform, describing which content was AI-generated, and confirming that a human verified every citation and factual assertion before filing. Primary source: S.D. Ohio (Graham) — Original — https://www.ohsd.uscourts.gov/sites/ohsd/files/10-21-25%20JLG%20Standing%20Order%20on%20the%20Use%20of%20Generative%20AI.pdfTue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTregulationus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-eoir-pm-25-40-generative-aihttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-eoir-pm-25-40-generative-aiSigned by Acting Director Sirce E. Owen and effective 8 August 2025, this is the first Department of Justice component policy on generative AI binding practitioners. EOIR imposes neither a blanket prohibition nor mandatory disclosure, but treats hallucinated or erroneous AI content as a likely professional-conduct violation and directs adjudicators to refer suspected misuse for discipline. Primary source: DOJ EOIR — Original — https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1410621/dl?inline=Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMTregulationus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-ao-judiciary-interim-ai-guidancehttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-ao-judiciary-interim-ai-guidanceFirst judiciary-wide AI guidance; temporary pending a permanent AI governance framework called for by the September 2025 Strategic Plan. Interim guidance developed by the Administrative Office's AI Task Force and distributed across the United States federal judiciary on 31 July 2025. It permits experimentation with AI while directing users to independently verify all AI-generated output, cautioning against delegating core judicial functions, and asking each court to define locally approved tools and tasks. The text itself is not published. Primary source: AO of the US Courts — Interim guidance, distributed judiciary-wide — https://www.uscourts.gov/data-news/reports/annual-reports/directors-annual-report/annual-report-2025/court-operations-annual-report-2025Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTregulationus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/johnson-v-dunnhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/johnson-v-dunnIn the Northern District of Alabama, Judge Anna M. Manasco publicly reprimanded Butler Snow attorneys Matthew B. Reeves, William J. Cranford and William R. Lunsford for filing two motions containing citations hallucinated by ChatGPT, disqualified them from the case and referred them to the Alabama State Bar; no fine was imposed, the court finding fines insufficient deterrents. Primary source: Johnson v. Dunn, No. 2:21-cv-01701-AMM (N.D. Ala. July 23, 2025), Sanctions Order (Dkt. 204) — storage.courtlistener.com — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.alnd.179677/gov.uscourts.alnd.179677.204.0.pdfWed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/coomer-v-lindellhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/coomer-v-lindellIn the US District Court for Colorado, lawyers for MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell filed an opposition brief with nearly thirty defective citations — including non-existent cases — produced by generative AI they did not verify. Judge Nina Y. Wang sanctioned Christopher Kachouroff and Jennifer DeMaster $3,000 each under Rule 11, and later added a $5,000 penalty for a repeat. Primary source: Coomer v. Lindell, No. 1:22-cv-01129 (D. Colo.), sanctions order 7 July 2025 (Doc. 383) — CourtListener docket — https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63296393/coomer-v-lindell/Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/mid-central-operating-engineers-v-hoosiervachttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/mid-central-operating-engineers-v-hoosiervacIn the Southern District of Indiana, Magistrate Judge Mark J. Dinsmore recommended a $15,000 Rule 11 sanction against attorney Rafael Ramirez for three briefs citing non-existent AI-generated cases and referred him to the Chief Judge; on 28 May 2025 the district judge adopted the recommendation in part, reducing the sanction to $6,000. Primary source: Mid Central Operating Engineers Health & Welfare Fund v. HoosierVac LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00326 (S.D. Ind. May 28, 2025), Order on Report and Recommendation (Dkt. 121) — govinfo.gov — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-insd-2_24-cv-00326/pdf/USCOURTS-insd-2_24-cv-00326-5.pdfWed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/lacey-v-state-farmhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/lacey-v-state-farmIn the Central District of California, Special Master Michael Wilner found that Ellis George and K&L Gates lawyers acted in a manner tantamount to bad faith by filing, then re-filing, a privilege brief built on undisclosed AI research with fabricated citations. He struck the briefs, denied the discovery relief sought and ordered the firms to pay $31,100. Primary source: Order of Special Master Imposing Non-Monetary Sanctions and Awarding Costs, ECF 119 (signed 5 May 2025, filed 6 May 2025), via CourtListener RECAP — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.930490/gov.uscourts.cacd.930490.119.0_2.pdfTue, 06 May 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/benjamin-v-costcohttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/benjamin-v-costcoIn the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst fined attorney Victoria Hovsepyan $1,000 under Rule 11 after she used the AI platform ChatOn to draft a reply on a remand motion that cited five fake cases; the court found subjective bad faith but declined any disciplinary referral. Primary source: Benjamin v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. 2:24-cv-7399 (LGD) (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 24, 2025), Order Imposing Sanctions (ECF No. 35) — storage.courtlistener.com — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nyed.522671/gov.uscourts.nyed.522671.35.0.pdfThu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/bevins-v-colgate-palmolivehttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/bevins-v-colgate-palmoliveIn the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Judge Baylson found attorney Nicholas L. Palazzo violated Rule 11 by citing two non-existent cases the court described as apparent AI hallucinations; the court struck his appearance with prejudice, ordered the memorandum served on the Pennsylvania and E.D. Pa. bars, and required him to inform his client. No fine was imposed. Primary source: Bevins v. Colgate-Palmolive Co., No. 2:25-cv-00576 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 10, 2025), Memorandum re: Motion to Dismiss and Sanctions (Dkt. 28) — govinfo.gov — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-paed-2_25-cv-00576/pdf/USCOURTS-paed-2_25-cv-00576-0.pdfThu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/dehghani-v-castrohttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/dehghani-v-castroIn the US District Court for the District of New Mexico, Magistrate Judge Damian L. Martinez sanctioned attorney Felipe D.J. Millan $1,500 under Rule 11 for filing a brief, bought from a LAWCLERK freelancer, citing six non-existent cases; he was also ordered to self-report to the New Mexico and Texas bars. District Judge Strickland affirmed on 9 May 2025. Primary source: Dehghani v. Castro, No. 2:25-cv-00052-MIS-DLM (D.N.M. Apr. 2, 2025), Memorandum Opinion and Order on Sanctions (Doc. 28) — govinfo.gov — https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-nmd-2_25-cv-00052/pdf/USCOURTS-nmd-2_25-cv-00052-7.pdfWed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/wadsworth-v-walmarthttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/wadsworth-v-walmartIn the US District Court for Wyoming, three Morgan & Morgan attorneys filed motions in limine citing nine cases, eight non-existent, generated by the firm's internal AI tool. Judge Kelly Rankin fined lead drafter Rudwin Ayala $3,000 and revoked his pro hac vice status; T. Michael Morgan and Taly Goody were fined $1,000 each under Rule 11. Primary source: Wadsworth v. Walmart Inc., No. 2:23-cv-00118 (D. Wyo.), sanctions order 24 Feb 2025 — CourtListener docket — https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67564066/wadsworth-v-walmart-inc/Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/kohls-v-ellisonhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/kohls-v-ellisonIn the US District Court for Minnesota, an expert declaration defending the state's political-deepfakes law was itself tainted by AI: Stanford professor Jeff Hancock's GPT-4o-drafted report cited two fabricated academic articles and misattributed a third. Judge Laura Provinzino excluded the declaration, calling it ironic that an AI-misinformation expert fell for AI's 'siren call'. Primary source: Kohls v. Ellison, No. 0:24-cv-03754 (D. Minn.), order 10 Jan 2025 (2025 WL 66514) — CourtListener docket — https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69206960/kohls-v-ellison/Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/gauthier-v-goodyearhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/gauthier-v-goodyearIn the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, plaintiff's attorney Brandon Monk filed a brief with non-existent cases and fabricated quotations produced by the AI tool Claude, which he did not verify. Judge Marcia Crone ordered him to pay a $2,000 penalty into the court registry and complete a CLE course on generative AI. Primary source: Gauthier v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., No. 1:23-CV-281 (E.D. Tex. 25 Nov 2024), Order (ECF 48, Crone J.) — order PDF read via CourtListener/RECAP — https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67624744/gauthier-v-goodyear-tire-rubber-co/Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/aba-formal-opinion-512https://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/aba-formal-opinion-512The American Bar Association's first formal ethics opinion on generative AI, issued 29 July 2024, applies the Model Rules to lawyers across the United States. It covers competence, confidentiality with informed client consent for self-learning tools, candor to tribunals, supervision of staff and vendors, and fees. It is permissive with cautions and has no successor opinion. Primary source: ABA — Original — https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/professional_responsibility/ethics-opinions/aba-formal-opinion-512.pdfMon, 29 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTregulationus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/dukuray-v-experianhttps://safelegalai.com/tracker/dukuray-v-experianIn the Southern District of New York, Magistrate Judge Gary Stein found that pro se plaintiff Isatou Dukuray's opposition brief cited three nonexistent cases, apparently generated by ChatGPT, declined to recommend sanctions, and warned that further fake citations could bring strikes, filing restrictions, monetary penalties or dismissal; District Judge Analisa Torres adopted the warning. No penalty. Primary source: Dukuray v. Experian Information Solutions, No. 23 Civ. 9043 (AT) (GS) (S.D.N.Y. July 26, 2024), Report & Recommendation (Doc. 40) — storage.courtlistener.com — https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.608237/gov.uscourts.nysd.608237.40.0.pdfFri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTincidentus-federalhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-ca5-proposed-rule-32-3-genai-certificationhttps://safelegalai.com/regulation/us-federal/us-ca5-proposed-rule-32-3-genai-certificationIn late 2023 the Fifth Circuit proposed requiring every filer to certify either that no generative AI was used or that all AI-generated text had been reviewed by a human. After public comment the court announced in June 2024 that it would not adopt the rule, relying on existing Rule 11 and candor obligations. No AI-specific rule applies. Primary source: Fifth Circuit — Court decision not to adopt — https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/court-decision-on-proposed-rule.pdfSat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTregulationus-federal