In re James Lawrence Bryant, Jr. and Sharon Renea Bryant (Case No. 25-10147)
Order Directing Debtors to Appear and Show Cause Why the Court Should Not Sanction Debtors for Failure to Comply with Rule 9011. Over the span of three weeks Debtors filed eight motions seeking overlapping and duplicative relief, and containing false, nonexistent or misleading case citations. The Court explained that these citations errors were emblematic of generative artificial intelligence. The Court recognized the benefits this technology holds, especially in the preparation of court filings among pro se litigants, however, the use of generative artificial intelligence is prone to make up case law to support its conclusions. Rule 9011 requires all parties to perform a reasonable inquiry under the circumstances that the claims defenses and other legal contentions made within their filings are warranted and nonfrivolous. Even unrepresented litigants are required to independently verify that the cases represented within their filings exist and support the proposition for which they are cited. Because Debtors’ filings indicate that no independent verification occurred, Debtors were directed to appear and show cause as to why the Court should not sanction Debtors for failure to comply with Rule 9011.