Alabama paid a law firm millions to defend its prisons. It used AI and turned in fake citations | Artificial intelligence (AI) | The Guardian

Butler Snow Faces Sanctions Over Fabricated Legal Citations in Inmate Stabbing Case

A prominent law firm, Butler Snow, is facing potential sanctions after a lawyer submitted false legal citations in a case defending the Alabama Department of Corrections. The case involves an inmate, Frankie Johnson, who alleges he was stabbed multiple times while incarcerated.

The Case: Inmate's Claims of Repeated Stabbings

Frankie Johnson, an inmate at William E. Donaldson prison near Birmingham, Alabama, claims he was subjected to repeated stabbings. He alleges:

• In December 2019, he was stabbed at least nine times in his housing unit.
• In March 2020, he was stabbed five times after being handcuffed to a desk by an officer.

The Defense and the Fabricated Evidence

Butler Snow, hired by Alabama to defend its prisons, reportedly used AI tools. However, the lawyer representing the firm submitted incorrect case law to support their defense. The specific details of the fabricated citations and the extent of the sanctions are still pending. This case highlights the potential risks of relying on AI without proper verification, especially in legal contexts.