Court Sanctions Attorney Over Fabricated Legal Citations

A judicial panel sanctioned petitioner’s counsel for submitting an opening brief containing fabricated case citations and quotations, discovered during oral argument in November 2025. The court identified 15 fabricated citations and nine fabricated quotations, initially calculating $16,500 in sanctions but capping the penalty at $10,000 due to mitigating explanations and procedural reforms. The decision underscores an attorney’s duty to verify authorities and prevent AI-driven errors.