Attorneys Accused of Misusing AI in Court Filings

State Bar alleges lawyers cited nonexistent legal decisions in AI-generated documents

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:19am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a complex network of illuminated circuit boards, cables, and data servers, representing the digital infrastructure that supports the legal system. The pulsing neon lights symbolize the interplay of technology and the law.As AI tools become more prevalent in legal work, concerns grow over the potential for technology to undermine the integrity of the justice system.Los Angeles Today

Three attorneys in California are facing disciplinary action from the State Bar for allegedly using artificial intelligence to generate court filings that included citations to nonexistent legal decisions. The State Bar has filed misconduct charges against the lawyers, accusing them of violating professional standards by failing to properly verify the accuracy of the information in their submissions.

Why it matters

These cases highlight the risks of attorneys relying too heavily on AI tools without proper oversight and verification. While AI can assist in legal work, lawyers have a duty to ensure the information they provide to the courts is accurate and supported. Failure to do so undermines the integrity of the legal system.

The details

The State Bar of California has filed disciplinary charges against Omid Emile Khalifeh, Steven Thomas Romeyn, and Sepideh Ardestani for allegedly misusing AI in their court filings. Khalifeh and Romeyn are accused of including citations to nonexistent legal decisions, while Ardestani admitted to submitting filings with erroneous citations. The attorneys claimed they used AI to help draft the documents, but failed to properly review and verify the information before submitting it to the courts.

  • In April 2025, Khalifeh submitted a filing in federal court that included a citation to a nonexistent case.
  • In October 2025, Romeyn filed a personal injury case in Orange County Superior Court that contained irrelevant and nonexistent citations.
  • In March 2025, Ardestani filed a wage-and-hour class-action complaint in federal court in Sacramento that included incorrect citations.

The players

Omid Emile Khalifeh

An attorney based in Los Angeles who is facing disciplinary charges from the State Bar of California for allegedly misusing AI in court filings.

Steven Thomas Romeyn

An attorney based in Scottsdale, Arizona who is facing disciplinary charges from the State Bar of California for allegedly misusing AI in court filings.

Sepideh Ardestani

A Beverly Hills attorney who was sanctioned by the State Bar Court for submitting nonexistent and erroneous citations in a March 2025 federal court filing.

George Cardona

The Chief trial counsel for the State Bar of California, who said the cases demonstrate how justice is undermined when attorneys fail to confirm the accuracy of their submissions to the court.

Eastern District of California

The federal court that said the time it spent reviewing Ardestani's alleged misconduct was a 'waste of limited time and judicial resources in a district that has labored under a longstanding caseload crisis.'

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What they’re saying

“Following drafting, I reviewed, revised, and supplemented all portions of the brief, including those that were informed by the use of Lexis+ AI or based on prior templates. I independently verified the factual and legal accuracy of the content and confirmed that all arguments and authorities were appropriate to the issues presented.”

— Omid Emile Khalifeh, Attorney

“Courts and clients must be able to trust that the filings attorneys submit are accurate, supported, and compliant with professional standards. Technology can assist legal practice, but it does not replace an attorney's duty of competence, diligence, and honesty.”

— George Cardona, Chief trial counsel, State Bar of California

What’s next

The State Bar Court will rule on whether Romeyn and Khalifeh committed professional misconduct, and could recommend that their licenses to practice law be suspended or that the attorneys be disbarred. The California Supreme Court will ultimately determine if the recommended discipline is imposed.

The takeaway

These cases highlight the need for attorneys to exercise caution and diligence when using AI tools to assist in legal work. While AI can be a valuable resource, lawyers must still verify the accuracy of information included in court filings to maintain the integrity of the legal system.