AI Blunder Sees Lawyer Exit Maryland Jail Lawsuit

Attorney Withdraws Amidst AI Controversy

An attorney retained by the state of Maryland to defend its corrections department in a significant lawsuit concerning Baltimore jail conditions has stepped down from the case. This resignation follows his admission of using generative artificial intelligence in court filings for an entirely separate case in Alabama.

The ChatGPT Connection: Fabricated Case Citations

The attorney, Matt Reeves of Butler Snow LLP, submitted a motion to withdraw on Thursday. This move came after a week of intense scrutiny due to his disclosure to a federal judge in Birmingham, Alabama. Reeves admitted that he used the AI platform ChatGPT to find legal precedents for a lawsuit where he represents the Alabama corrections department. Critically, the citations provided by the AI software turned out to be “hallucinations”—references to cases that do not actually exist.

Reeves' motion to withdraw from the Maryland case did not specify a reason for his departure. However, it stated that his colleagues from Butler Snow, including William Lunsford, who heads the firm’s correctional litigation practice, will continue to serve as counsel of record for Maryland.

Impact on Maryland's Defense and Butler Snow's Role

The Maryland attorney general’s office, which originally hired Butler Snow several years ago to manage the defense of the Baltimore jail system, opted not to comment last week regarding Butler Snow's use of AI. Records show that attorneys from the firm have billed the state approximately $776,712 for their services. Neither Reeves nor Lunsford immediately responded to email inquiries seeking comment on the withdrawal.

The state's decision to hire Butler Snow was a significant one, initiated under former Attorney General Brian Frosh and former Governor Larry Hogan. Current Attorney General Anthony Brown has continued the engagement with the law firm. This continuation, first reported by The Baltimore Banner in September 2023, persists despite the substantial cost and what has been described as minimal results achieved by the firm so far.

A Long History of Baltimore Jail Litigation

In Baltimore, Butler Snow was tasked with the challenging objective of concluding litigation that predates even the state corrections department's takeover of the city jails in 1991. Throughout its long history, the lawsuit has seen multiple settlements, subsequent reopenings, and further settlements, all with varying degrees of success.

The protracted legal battle has led to a range of reforms within the jail system, including the closure of some of its most dilapidated facilities. Nevertheless, independent monitors consistently report ongoing deficiencies, particularly in the jail’s medical and mental health care services.