State National Insurance Co. v. Damon Treadwell
The case
State National Insurance Company, Inc. v. Damon Treadwell, N.D. Alabama, No. 2:24-cv-01424-HDM, Document 70, order entered March 26, 2026 (docket filed March 27, 2026). Copy of primary document: `files/sources/D-135-state-national-v-treadwell.pdf`. Source URL: https://www.damiencharlotin.com/documents/1916/State_National_v._Dimon_Treadwell_USA_27_March_2026.pdf
What happened
Attorney Edward Eugene May II admitted using ChatGPT and OpenCase to prepare filings, producing fabricated quotations that he failed to verify before submission. The fabricated quotations were presented to the court as genuine authority.
The rule and the sanction
The court publicly reprimanded May. It ordered him to provide the order to opposing counsel and the presiding judge in every pending state or federal case in which he was counsel, as well as to his clients, and to certify compliance. No fine, bar referral, disqualification, or suspension was imposed.
How it could have been avoided
Verify quotations against the original opinions, since fabricated quotes are easy to expose. Maintain a firm verification workflow when using multiple AI tools. Understand that candor failures draw public reprimands even without monetary sanctions.