The $1,000 “Motion to Eliminate”

In Utah, an attorney learned the hard way what happens when AI’s shortcuts replace human oversight. A motion drafted with ChatGPT cited six fake cases and mistranslated legal terminology, swapping the standard phrase “motion in limine” for the bizarre and nonexistent “motion to eliminate.” The result? Sanctions, embarrassment, and a courtroom apology.

The Case: ChatGPT’s Hallucinated Law

In Garner v. Kadince (2025), the Utah Court of Appeals sanctioned attorneys after their filing included fictitious case law pulled directly from ChatGPT. One such phantom precedent was Royer v. Nelson, 2007 UT App 74, 156 P.3d 789, a case that doesn’t exist in any database. The court wasn’t amused.

The fallout:

• Attorneys refunded their client’s fees for the flawed petition.
• They paid opposing counsel’s attorney fees.
• They donated $1,000 to a legal aid nonprofit, And Justice for All.
• Most importantly, they faced professional humiliation for failing to verify citations before filing.

This echoes earlier cases like Mata v. Avianca (New York, 2023), where lawyers were fined for AI-invented citations. Across the U.S., courts are seeing a surge in these AI-induced blunders.

Why It Matters: The Interpreter Parallel

This is more than a funny headline. Just as AI hallucinated “motion to eliminate,” courtroom interpreting faces its own risks when technology misrenders legal terminology. A mistranslation isn’t just a slip, it becomes part of the permanent court record. On appeal, a single wrong phrase can undermine testimony, confuse judges, or cast doubt on the entire proceeding.

When the record matters, precision matters. Certified interpreters aren’t optional, they are safeguards against irreversible errors.

Lessons Learned

1. Verify Everything: AI can assist with drafts, but lawyers and interpreters must double-check terminology, citations, and context.
2. Credentials Count: Just as courts sanction attorneys for negligence, unqualified interpreters introduce risks that can damage cases beyond repair.
3. Build Protocols: Firms and courts need clear rules for AI use in legal drafting and interpreting, with mandatory human review.
4. Respect the Record: Once an error is in the transcript, it’s nearly impossible to erase. Prevention beats correction every time.

Kaplan’s Role: Protecting Accuracy in Every Word

At Kaplan Interpreting Services, we understand that court interpreter services are more than language, they’re the foundation of justice. Our certified legal interpreters ensure accuracy, compliance, and professionalism at every stage of proceedings. We integrate technology responsibly, but never at the expense of trust, credibility, or the record itself.

Whether it’s legal translation accuracy, deposition interpreting, or courtroom testimony, Kaplan’s interpreters safeguard against the very risks exposed in the $1,000 “motion to eliminate” case. Because in law, every word matters, and once it’s on record, it stays forever.

Takeaway

Technology is a tool, not a substitute for expertise. The $1,000 “motion to eliminate” shows that AI’s mistakes carry real-world costs, financial, professional, and reputational. In the courtroom, where every word counts, human oversight and certified interpreters remain non-negotiable.