Two attorneys representing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell have been sanctioned by a federal judge for submitting a court filing generated by artificial intelligence that was riddled with errors. Judge Nina Y. Wang of the U.S. District Court in Denver ordered Christopher Kachouroff and Jennifer DeMaster to each pay $3,000 for violating court rules.
The motion, filed in Lindell’s defamation case related to claims about the 2020 presidential election, contained nearly 30 defective citations, including references to nonexistent cases and misquotations of case law. This defamation case concluded with Lindell being found liable. The judge emphasized that the sanction was the “least severe” necessary.
During a pretrial hearing, Kachouroff admitted to using generative AI to write the motion. He initially claimed it was a draft filed by accident, but the judge found even the “final” version contained substantial errors. Judge Wang found the lawyers' explanations contradictory and unconvincing.
Key Issues with the AI-Generated Filing
- Misquoted court precedents
- Highlighted legal principles irrelevant to the cited cases
- Contained citations to nonexistent cases
Judge Wang found Kachouroff's accusation that the court was trying to “blindside” him over the errors “troubling.” This case highlights the potential pitfalls of using AI in legal work without careful verification.
Implications for Legal Professionals
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for legal professionals considering using AI in their practice. It underscores the importance of human oversight and verification, even when using advanced technologies. The judge's decision emphasizes the responsibility of attorneys to ensure the accuracy and reliability of their filings, regardless of the method used to create them.