AI case law is being written in real time. Every month brings new sanctions for hallucinated citations, new rulings on AI copyright, and new guidance on how attorneys should use AI tools. This guide tracks the cases that matter — the ones setting precedent, the ones attorneys are getting sanctioned over, and the ones that will determine the future of AI in legal practice.
Related: State AI Regulation · AI Disclosure Directory · AI Tools for Lawyers · AI by Practice Area
Timeline
2018
2023
Mata v. Avianca, Inc. · People v. Crabill · Thaler v. Perlmutter · Thaler v. Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks · The New York Times Co. v. Microsoft Corp. (OpenAI) · Andersen v. Stability AI Ltd. · In re Judge Brantley Starr AI Standing Order · FTC Investigation of OpenAI (ChatGPT Privacy Probe)
2024
2025
2026
AI Disclosure
AI Hallucination / Sanctions
Noland v. Land of the Free, L.P. (2025) $10,000
Johnson v. Dunn (2025)
Mid Central Operating Engineers Health & Welfare Fund v. HoosierVac LLC (2025) $6,000 (reduced from recommended $15,000)
Wadsworth v. Walmart Inc. (2025) $5,000 (total: $3,000 + $1,000 + $1,000)
Gauthier v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (2024) $2,000
Park v. Kim (2024)
People v. Crabill (2023)
Mata v. Avianca, Inc. (2023) $5,000
