Attorney for Maine client faces sanctions for AI-driven errors in court filing

A federal judge in Portland sanctioned attorney Kelly Guagenty for AI-related errors in a court filing tied to a lawsuit against Hyde School in Bath, Maine. Guagenty, representing a former student suing over alleged forced labor and abuse spanning decades, failed to verify AI-generated content, leading to citation mistakes and misquoted case law in a November filing opposing dismissal. Judge Stacey D. Neumann ruled on May 5 that Guagenty must attend an AI ethics course and establish firm-wide procedures to prevent future errors. The judge noted Guagenty’s remorse and disciplinary record but emphasized the duty to ensure accuracy in legal filings, even with AI assistance. The underlying civil case, denied by Hyde School, will continue unaffected. Maine’s legal ethics rules lack explicit AI guidelines, unlike California’s mandates for transparency and client communication when using AI tools. The American Bar Association warns that blind reliance on AI-generated drafts without verification risks violating competent representation standards. Maine’s Bar Association has begun offering AI-focused continuing education courses, including summer sessions on AI in discovery and trademark law. Guagenty, a partner at Justice Law Collaborative in Massachusetts, stated the sanction was fair and aligned with her commitment to survivors of institutional abuse. She emphasized correcting the error while advancing her client’s case. The Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar requires lawyers to stay current with technology, including AI, though no state-specific AI regulations exist yet.