Those who know me are aware that I keep a close eye on the global industry of eDiscovery through my international contacts. It is crucial to see what is happening elsewhere, partly to keep up to date with important happenings and also because most things filter through to, or affect, SA eventually.

One matter which caught my eye is yet another case involving fake ChatGPT citations. This time it was in Colorado and the lawyer concerned was suspended for a year for citing case law in a motion which he found through ChatGPT. He failed to inform the Court of the existence of the false cases after he filed his motion and also did not withdraw the motion. Originally, he placed the blame on the shoulders of his intern but in a subsequent affidavit he explained that he had used the platform when he drafted the motion. His actions violated the Colorado Bar Associations Rule of Conduct and, in fact he was to serve 90 days of the year long suspension and the rest would be “waived “if he successfully completed 2 years’ probation.

You have to wonder how many more cases we will see before lawyers get the message and one can only assume that sanctions will be harsher until they do.

When you have been in eDiscovery as long as we have, you expect to see, year on year, improvements and new features and the industry rarely disappoints. When I think back many years ago to being excited seeing a solution “tally” documents by custodian and I look at what has developed since it is really quite astonishing.   As I say, we expect, and corporate clients expect, constant changes which react to the ever growing volumes and increasing complexity of electronic data, all aimed at saving time and driving down cost. However, just once in a while, a new feature occurs which is truly game changing, and I cannot remember being quite as excited as I am now to see Relativity announce the launch of aiR for Review, at their recent Relativity Fest.

What is it? What does it mean? Why am I so excited?