TD Jakes Granted a Fraction of Requested Sanctions Against Attorney Tyrone Blackburn

Two months ago Bishop TD Jakes filed a motion demanding attorney Tyrone Blackburn pay $76k in legal fees for filing AI generated documents, riddled with errors and fabricated case law, in his headline grabbing lawsuit accusing the Bishop of grooming a former mentee [click here if you missed that]. 

Blackburn has been ordered to pay a fraction of the amount requested and barred from practicing in the Pennsylvania Western District Court...

From AllHipHop

T.D. Jakes scored a courtroom victory in Texas as a federal judge sanctioned attorney Tyrone Blackburn for submitting legal documents riddled with bogus citations generated by artificial intelligence.

Blackburn acknowledged using generative AI to draft the filings and apologized, blaming his unfamiliarity with the technology. But the court wasn’t buying it.

“The Court holds that Blackburn engaged in sanctionable conduct. At best, he knowingly and repeatedly submitted legal documents that he neither prepared nor reviewed to ensure their accuracy… It is inexcusable to skirt this duty by relying on AI to draft a brief. Blackburn did so and, when accused, did so again.”

Jakes’ legal team requested over $76,000 in attorneys’ fees, but the judge instead imposed a $5,000 fine on Blackburn, citing deterrence as the goal.

Blackburn must pay the fine in monthly installments. The court also revoked his pro hac vice status, barring him from practicing in the district.