Judge Dismissed Lawsuit Linked to AI Misuse
A Scranton resident had his Sunshine Act lawsuit thrown out after citing fabricated court rulings.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Judge Terrence Nealon dismissed a lawsuit filed by Thomas Coyne against the Scranton City Council after discovering the plaintiff used artificial intelligence to generate fake legal citations. Coyne had alleged that council members violated the state Sunshine Act during an executive session.
Why it matters
The ruling underscores the growing legal risks associated with relying on generative artificial intelligence for research. Courts are increasingly scrutinizing submissions that include fabricated precedents, which can compromise the integrity of legal proceedings.
The lawsuit included non-existent court rulings and fabricated quotations, which were found to be hallucinations of generative AI. The case was dismissed after officials noted an age discrepancy of 26 years between the cited and actual rulings.
The players
Judge Terrence Nealon
He is the presiding judge in the Lackawanna County court who oversaw the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Thomas Coyne
He is the Scranton resident who represented himself in the legal proceedings against the city council.
Scranton City Council
This is the governing legislative body of Scranton that faced legal allegations regarding an executive session.
The details
Thomas Coyne, who represented himself in the matter, attempted to sue the council for their conduct during a July 2025 executive session. However, the court determined the Sunshine Act does not apply to individual agency members as the plaintiff had claimed in his improperly researched filings.
Timeline
July 15, 2025: The Scranton City Council held an executive session questioned by the plaintiff.
July 29, 2025: Thomas Coyne filed the lawsuit against city officials.
September 25, 2026: Judge Terrence Nealon dismissed the lawsuit.
The Big Picture
The ruling aligns with the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, which the court found does not hold individual agency members applicable for these specific claims. This dismissal establishes a clear boundary for how citizens can challenge municipal conduct in court.
Residents in Scranton should be aware that self-representation requires strict adherence to verified legal research methods. Using AI to draft court documents can lead to immediate case dismissal and the loss of potential claims.
The takeaway
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for those utilizing AI tools for complex professional or legal tasks. Verifying all information against primary sources is essential to ensure credibility and avoid significant repercussions in formal settings.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of legal standards and emerging tools, explore our coverage on Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Scranton Times-Tribune.
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