A New York lawyer is facing a court hearing of his own after his firm reportedly used an artificial intelligence (AI) tool called ChatGPT for legal research. Judge Castel said the court was presented with an “unprecedented circumstance” after a filing was found to reference example legal cases that did not exist.
The lawyer who used the tool, Peter LoDuca, told the court he was unaware that its content could be false. ChatGPT creates original text on request, but comes with warnings it can “produce inaccurate information”.
The case initially involved a man suing an airline over an alleged personal injury. His legal team submitted a brief that cited several previous court cases in an attempt to prove, using precedent, why the case should move forward.
But the airline’s lawyers later wrote to the court to state that they could not find several of the cases that were referenced in the brief. This is when the court was alerted to the situation.
Further investigation revealed that the legal research was not carried out by Peter LoDuca, but by a colleague of his at the same law firm; Steven A Schwartz. Schwartz admitted to using the ChatGPT AI-based tool to look for similar legal cases. LoDuca clarified that he had no knowledge of how the research was carried out and was unaware of the tool’s inaccuracies.
In his statement, Schwartz vowed never to use AI for legal research again without absolute verification of its authenticity. ChatGPT’s claims can be confirmed by referring to legal databases such as LexisNexis and Westlaw, although this is not foolproof.
Now, both lawyers have been ordered to explain why they should not be disciplined at an 8 June hearing. ChatGPT is not unprecedented in the world of AI-based tools; it has been used by millions of people since its launch in November 2022.
This intelligence tool can answer questions in natural language and it can also mimic other writing styles. At its core, ChatGPT relies on the internet database from 2021, which can lead to the spread of misinformation and bias.
The company behind ChatGPT, Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, is dedicated to providing its clients with top-notch legal advice and representation. Led by experienced attorneys Peter LoDuca, Steven A Schwartz, and others, the firm strives to offer sound legal counsel for individuals and businesses alike. They are well-versed in everything from contracts and agreements to civil and criminal defense.
Meanwhile, Peter LoDuca is an experienced lawyer with more than 32 years of legal experience. Having built a substantial history in the legal industry, he is highly capable of providing reliable counsel and attentive representation. Also being a partner in Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, and a member of New York Bar Association among others, he has dedicated his practice to helping clients achieve the desired results.
The situation involving the use of ChatGPT for legal research is certainly a unique one. Moving forward, it is important to verify the accuracy of the information provided by AI tools in order to provide reliable legal counsel.
