Lawyer's AI Hallucinations Cost Him in Court

0:00It's March 31st. From your city to your ears, this is Canada News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. A lawyer working for an Indigenous Fisheries Group got called out in federal court for citing four fake court cases that didn't exist. These turned out to be AI hallucinations in his filing for more time on a judicial review against Canada's Fisheries Department. Justice Danielle Farone ruled they were bogus after a March hearing in Montreal. The case stemmed from the Department ending a contract early with the National Indigenous Fisheries Initiative, a deal for co-managing fisheries with. First Nations. The lawyer admitted he used a subcontractor for urgent research but didn't check the cases or disclose AI use, breaking a court rule from last year. Ference landed as careless and against Laura's ethics, even if not on purpose. She noted it waste court time and risks cases. The lawyer apologized, blaming his small non-profits tight resources.

1:01This fits a pattern across Canadian courts. Other judges have hit lawyers with rebukes, referrals to law societies, or costs for similar AI slip-ups, like made-up quotes or cases. A retired chief justice warned courts will crack down hard on undeclared AI. Ference skipped contempt or referrals, but hit them with special costs. Way higher than usual at 80% to 100% of the winner's expenses. She also dismissed the review, saying the contract spat along elsewhere, leaving Indigenous groups to regroup on fisheries management.