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Connecticut Judge Fines Lawyer $3,500 Over AI-Fabricated Quotes in Taco Trademark Case

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Why it matters

A Connecticut federal judge imposed a $3,500 sanction against defense attorney Hilary B. Miller after finding that two motions he filed in a trademark dispute over a taco restaurant contained AI-generated errors, including fabricated quotations, false citations, and misstatements of law. U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver for the District of Connecticut initially flagged the filings in June, identifying multiple erroneous citations and quotations that did not exist and concluding the submissions relied on generative AI without adequate verification. In the sanctions order, the court acknowledged Miller's apology and stated commitment to revising his verification procedures, yet still found the conduct reflected "subjective bad faith."

The court has not disclosed the specific motions or the full scope of the errors beyond Judge Oliver's initial June findings. The underlying trademark case details remain limited in public filings.

The ruling joins a growing line of judicial sanctions targeting AI hallucinations in legal submissions and signals that courts will not excuse citation errors or fabricated authority based on AI assistance. Attorneys relying on generative AI tools face clear notice that independent verification of every citation, quotation, and legal proposition remains non-delegable. The decision carries particular weight because it imposes financial penalties despite the attorney's stated remedial measures, suggesting judges will scrutinize the adequacy of verification protocols going forward.

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