We recently informed on whether your law firm should use ChatGPT to generate blog posts for your legal website. Our advice was to steer clear of the chatbot, largely because it can produce inaccurate information. Well, a NYC lawyer now knows this the hard way.
The Case of Steven Schwartz
CNN recently reported on Mr. Schwartz’s case. He is a New York City attorney with the firm of Levidow, Levidow & Oberman. Mr. Schwartz has been licensed for over 30 years.
The NYC lawyer represented Roberto Mata in a negligence lawsuit that Mr. Mata filed against Avianca airlines for injuries he says he sustained from a serving cart while on the airline in 2019. In the course of his representation, Mr. Schwartz submitted a brief to the court that included six bogus cases, entirely made up by ChatGPT.
Schwartz, in an affidavit, said that he had never used ChatGPT as a legal research source prior to this case and, therefore, “was unaware of the possibility that its content could be false.” He accepted responsibility for not confirming the chatbot’s sources.
Schwartz is now facing a sanctions hearing on June 8.
In an affidavit this week, he said he “greatly regrets having utilized generative artificial intelligence to supplement the legal research performed herein and will never do so in the future without absolute verification of its authenticity.”
We Said it Before, and We’ll Say it Again
AI language models like ChatGPT may be useful in generating certain sections of a document or an outline for a blog post. But it’s crucial to have a human lawyer review and edit the document to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In short, while ChatGPT can be a useful tool to assist in drafting a blog post, it should not be used as a substitute for the expertise and judgment of a qualified lawyer.
Defacto Digital is Here to Help!
Defacto Digital has been helping attorneys and law firms build a successful web presence for over 20 years. Our team stands ready to help you either create your first virtual office or make your existing website more accessible, rewarding, and effective.
Our websites are created by a skilled website developer with years of experience. The content for your site is drafted by a licensed attorney (turned legal marketer) who knows how to connect with clients and clearly communicate legal issues.
Simply contact us today and let us begin to market your firm in the direction that it wants to go…up! No matter your practice area, we’ve got you covered. Websites that work, always!