AI Legal Fail? Judge Slams Lindell’s Lawyers for Botched Brief

A federal judge has reprimanded lawyers representing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in a defamation case, citing nearly 30 errors in a legal brief allegedly drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence. The errors included misquoted cases and citations to non-existent legal precedents.

Judge Threatens Sanctions Over AI-Generated Errors

US District Judge Nina Wang issued an order demanding attorneys Christopher Kachouroff and Jennifer DeMaster explain why they shouldn’t be sanctioned or referred to disciplinary proceedings. The judge highlighted issues ranging from misrepresenting legal principles to citing entirely fabricated court cases.

“The Court identified nearly thirty defective citations in the Opposition,” Judge Wang stated in her order. “These defects include but are not limited to misquotes of cited cases… and most egregiously, citation of cases that do not exist.”

AI Use Admitted, Accuracy Questioned

Kachouroff, lead counsel for the defense against a lawsuit by former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer, admitted to using AI to draft the February 25 brief during an April 21 hearing. However, the judge expressed skepticism regarding the extent of human oversight.

Judge Wang noted Kachouroff’s evasiveness when questioned about the inaccurate citations: “Time and time again… [he] declined to offer any explanation, or suggested that it was a ‘draft pleading.'”

Fictional Citations and Missed Oversight

The judge’s order detailed instances of blatant errors, including attributing a Kentucky court case to Colorado. Kachouroff reportedly expressed surprise when informed that one citation, Perkins v. Fed. Fruit & Produce Co., 945 F.3d 1242, 1251 (10th Cir. 2019), was nonexistent.

The attorneys have until May 5th to provide a detailed explanation, under oath, regarding the brief’s preparation and whether Lindell approved the use of AI.

We have reached out to Kachouroff and DeMaster for comment and will update this article accordingly. Kachouroff is affiliated with McSweeney Cynkar & Kachouroff, while DeMaster practices law in Wisconsin.

Background: Coomer’s Defamation Lawsuit

Eric Coomer’s lawsuit accuses Lindell, FrankSpeech, and MyPillow of spreading false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and falsely claiming Coomer committed treason. The suit alleges that Lindell’s platforms were used to defame Coomer and promote MyPillow products.

The problematic brief was filed in opposition to Coomer’s motion to exclude certain evidence, which he argued was irrelevant and intended to smear his character. Lindell’s lawyers, seemingly armed with faulty AI-generated research, argued that the evidence was relevant to Coomer’s credibility.

The case highlights the potential pitfalls of relying on AI in legal settings without proper verification and oversight.