Introduction to the Case
Lawyers representing MyPillow and its CEO Mike Lindell were fined $6,000 after using artificial intelligence in a brief that was riddled with misquotes and citations to fictional cases. This incident occurred during a defamation lawsuit filed by former Dominion Voting Systems executive Eric Coomer against Lindell and his companies.
Background of the Lawsuit
Coomer’s complaint stated that Lindell and his companies "have been among the most prolific vectors of baseless conspiracy theories claiming election fraud in the 2020 election." The lawsuit was defended by attorneys Christopher Kachouroff and Jennifer DeMaster, who worked for the law firm of McSweeney Cynkar & Kachouroff.
The Sanctioning of the Lawyers
Kachouroff and DeMaster were fined $3,000 each, jointly and severally, by US District Judge Nina Wang. This decision was made after a jury trial in which Coomer was awarded over $2.3 million in damages. The jury found that Lindell defamed Coomer and ordered him to pay $440,500. Additionally, the jury found that Lindell’s media company, Frankspeech, defamed Coomer and ordered it to pay damages of $1,865,500.
The Faulty Brief
The February 25 brief that got Lindell’s lawyers in trouble was an opposition to Coomer’s motion asking the court to exclude certain evidence. The brief was riddled with misquotes and citations to fictional cases, which led to the sanctioning of the lawyers. Even the so-called "correct" version of the brief still had substantive errors, such as inaccurate descriptions of previous cases.
Errors in the Brief
The original version of the brief had nearly 30 defective citations, which is a significant number of errors. The use of artificial intelligence in the brief was seen as a factor that contributed to the errors. The judge’s order stated that the sanctioning of the lawyers was "the least severe sanction adequate to deter and punish defense counsel in this instance."
Conclusion
The case highlights the importance of accuracy and attention to detail in legal briefs. The use of artificial intelligence can be helpful, but it is not a substitute for human review and editing. The sanctioning of the lawyers serves as a reminder to legal professionals to ensure that their work is thorough and accurate.
FAQs
- Q: Who were the lawyers fined in the case?
A: Attorneys Christopher Kachouroff and Jennifer DeMaster were fined $3,000 each. - Q: What was the reason for the fine?
A: The fine was imposed due to the use of artificial intelligence in a brief that was riddled with misquotes and citations to fictional cases. - Q: How much was Eric Coomer awarded in damages?
A: Coomer was awarded over $2.3 million in damages. - Q: What was the outcome of the jury trial?
A: The jury found that Lindell defamed Coomer and ordered him to pay $440,500, and also found that Lindell’s media company, Frankspeech, defamed Coomer and ordered it to pay damages of $1,865,500.
