MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is facing legal challenges after his lawyer, Christopher Kachouroff, admitted to filing a court brief generated by artificial intelligence. The brief contained numerous fabricated legal citations, prompting U.S. District Court Judge Nina Wang to demand an explanation. Lindell is being sued for defamation by Eric Coomer, a former Dominion Voting Systems employee, over Lindell’s claims about the 2020 presidential election. Kachouroff initially blamed the errors on his own mistakes but later admitted to using generative AI. Judge Wang has given Kachouroff and co-lawyer Jennifer DeMaster until May 5th to explain the situation, warning that they may face disciplinary proceedings if their explanation is unsatisfactory.
The AI-Generated Brief Controversy
The court brief filed by Kachouroff contained ‘nearly thirty’ glaring errors, including citations of non-existent cases. When questioned by Judge Wang, Kachouroff failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the mistakes. It wasn’t until the judge directly asked if the brief was generated by AI that Kachouroff admitted to its use. The lawyer also acknowledged that he didn’t verify the accuracy of the AI-generated content before filing it.
Potential Consequences
If Kachouroff and DeMaster can’t provide a sufficient explanation by the deadline, they may be referred for disciplinary proceedings for violating professional conduct rules. This development adds to Lindell’s legal woes, who is already facing a defamation lawsuit from Coomer. The case highlights the risks and consequences of using AI-generated content in legal proceedings.
Gizmodo reached out to Kachouroff and DeMaster for comment on the matter.
