A Tampa, Fla. attorney is being referred to disciplinary officials by an appellate court after submitting a brief with phony cases, citations, and quotes, in the latest example of Sunshine State attorneys undermined by artificial intelligence.
The Florida Second District Court of Appeals said “sanctions are appropriate” personal injury and criminal defense lawyer J. Tony Lopez, who submitted an appellate answer brief that misrepresented holdings of opinions nine times, fabricated quotes from opinions 10 times, and cited a case that doesn’t exist. Lopez is being referred to the Florida Bar.
“Efficiency, expertise, and cost savings are some of the reasons ...