Why did a New York federal judge terminate a case involving Steven Feldman?

Judge Katherine Polk Failla terminated the case due to Steven Feldman's repeated misuse of artificial intelligence in drafting court filings, which included submitting documents with fake citations and flowery prose.

What are the consequences for lawyers misusing AI in court filings?

Misusing AI in court filings, such as submitting fake citations, can lead to sanctions, including case termination, fines, and default judgments, as seen in the case of Steven Feldman.

Home / Crime and Justice / Judge Tosses Case Over Lawyer's AI-Blunders and Fake Cites

Judge Tosses Case Over Lawyer's AI-Blunders and Fake Cites

Q: Did Steven Feldman admit to using AI to write his court filings?

Steven Feldman denied that AI generated his filings, stating he wrote them himself and used AI tools only for citation verification, though the judge remained skeptical.

7 Feb

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Summary

Judge terminated a case due to lawyer's repeated AI misuse.
Lawyer Steven Feldman submitted filings with fake citations.
Judge noted 'florid prose' and Ray Bradbury quote in filings.

Judge Tosses Case Over Lawyer's AI-Blunders and Fake Cites

A federal judge in New York has terminated a legal case, citing a lawyer's repeated misuse of artificial intelligence in court documents. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla sanctioned attorney Steven Feldman for submitting filings with fake citations and flowery language, including quotes from "Fahrenheit 451" and references to ancient libraries.

Feldman denied that AI generated the filings, asserting he wrote them himself and used AI tools only for citation verification. Judge Failla expressed skepticism, noting the "florid prose" suggested AI authorship and that Feldman's explanations lacked substance. She found his conduct evasive and his reliance on AI for citation checks to be a critical misstep.

The judge emphasized that AI cannot replace fundamental legal research obligations, such as verifying case citations. She concluded that Feldman had "learned nothing" from prior warnings and "brazenly" violated court rules, leading to the decision to enter default judgment for the plaintiffs.