Mata v. Avianca (ChatGPT fake cites)
Mata v. Avianca — ChatGPT Fake Citations Sanctions Order (S.D.N.Y.)
S.D.N.Y. · Mata v. Avianca, Inc., 678 F. Supp. 3d 443 (S.D.N.Y. 2023)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- June 22, 2023
- Applies to
- Attorneys practicing in U.S. federal court
Two New York attorneys submitted a brief containing six fictitious case citations generated by ChatGPT. In June 2023 Judge P. Kevin Castel sanctioned them $5,000 each — the first formal federal sanction for AI-hallucinated legal citations, and the most-cited case in subsequent bar opinions on attorney AI use.
Who is protected: Courts and opposing parties against AI-fabricated legal authorities
Legal detail
Mata v. Avianca, Inc., 678 F. Supp. 3d 443 (S.D.N.Y. 2023). Rule 11 sanctions of $5,000 against attorneys Steven Schwartz and Peter LoDuca for submitting brief with six fabricated ChatGPT-generated case citations. Court emphasized attorneys' duty to verify citations regardless of source.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | S.D.N.Y. |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Citation | Mata v. Avianca, Inc., 678 F. Supp. 3d 443 (S.D.N.Y. 2023) |
| Topics | consumer protection · AI disclosure and transparency · automated decision-making |
| Court record | Mata v. Avianca — CourtListener opinion |
More AI rules in S.D.N.Y.
- UAW v. State Dept — social media surveillance suit survives dismissal · Blocked / in litigation
- NYT v. OpenAI / Microsoft · Blocked / in litigation
- Authors Guild v. OpenAI · Blocked / in litigation
- CIR v. OpenAI · Blocked / in litigation
- Daily News v. OpenAI · Blocked / in litigation
- Intercept v. OpenAI · Blocked / in litigation
Related consumer protection rules elsewhere
- Missouri AI Therapy Chatbot Ban (SB 1019) · In effect
- Vermont Data Broker Law (H.211) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- NAACP v. xAI (Colossus 2 Air Pollution) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI Therapy Chatbot Ban (2026) · In effect
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction. Every entry must carry a verifiable source.