Lack of oversight may be why younger lawyers use fake AI citations; ABA Journal, June 1, 2025

  DAVID WEISENFELD , ABA Journal; Lack of oversight may be why younger lawyers use fake AI citations

"Under Rule 5.1 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, a partner in a law firm and a lawyer who—individually or together with other lawyers—has managerial authority in a law firm must make “reasonable efforts” to ensure all lawyers in the firm conform to the Rules of Professional Conduct.

But what are reasonable efforts in the age of generative AI, which has seen lawyers being sanctioned for citing fictitious cases?...

In the 2024 Massachusetts case Smith v. Farwell, a lawyer for the plaintiff filed legal memoranda that cited and relied on fictitious cases. Acknowledging his ignorance of AI and disclaiming any intention to mislead the court, the lawyer attributed the inclusion of the cases to an associate and two recent law school graduates who had not yet passed the bar who worked on the brief.

The judge credited the attorney’s contrition, but he said it did not exonerate him of all fault and ordered him to pay a $2,000 sanction.

Just as ignorance of the law is no excuse, a lack of technical knowledge does not justify any sort of failure to supervise, according to Lucian Pera, a partner with Adams and Reese."

Trump’s firing of independent watchdogs raises concerns about government fraud and ethics; PBS News, January 27, 2025

 Laura Barrón-López , Shrai Popat, PBS News; Trump’s firing of independent watchdogs raises concerns about government fraud and ethics

"In another sweeping move of his second term, President Trump fired more than a dozen inspectors general, the non-partisan watchdogs appointed to protect against abuses of power, waste and mismanagement across federal agencies. White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López discussed the impact with Glenn Fine, former inspector general for the Department of Justice."

UC Berkeley Chancellor Dirks Resigns Amid Mounting Criticism; Forum, KQED Radio, 8/18/16

[Podcast] Michael Krasny, Forum, KQED Radio; UC Berkeley Chancellor Dirks Resigns Amid Mounting Criticism:

"UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks announced his resignation Tuesday, as critics faulted him for his handling of the university’s $150 million budget deficit and a string of sexual harassment cases involving faculty. Most recently, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the campus paid more than $200,000 to improve Dirks’ “strategic profile.” Dirks, a noted historian and author, will join the UC Berkeley faculty full-time once a successor is appointed. We discuss Dirks’ tenure and what lies ahead for the university."

Harassment Crisis Builds at Fox News, Despite Its Swift Response; New York Times, 8/10/16

Michael M. Grynbaum, Emily Steel, Sydney Ember, New York Times; Harassment Crisis Builds at Fox News, Despite Its Swift Response:

"Of particular issue is a $3.15 million settlement that Laurie Luhn, a former booker at the network, said she received in 2011. In an interview with New York magazine, Ms. Luhn said that Mr. Ailes forced her into a yearslong sexual relationship.

Executives at 21st Century Fox have said they were only made aware of the settlement recently. On Wednesday, when asked to clarify exactly when it learned of it, the company declined to respond.

“One would hope that a $3 million settlement for sexual harassment would flow up the line to somebody in corporate management,” said Kirk O. Hanson, executive director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. “At least today, that kind of settlement should come to the attention of the audit committee of the board.”"

In scathing report, FTA blasts Metro track maintenance program; Washington Post, 8/8/16

Martine Powers and Faiz Siddiqui, Washington Post; In scathing report, FTA blasts Metro track maintenance program:

"“Today’s report is alarming, but not surprising,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said in a statement. ­“Metro’s safety culture is lacking. The WMATA rank-and-file workforce has taken much of the blame for recent safety lapses, and while employees should and have been held accountable, that accountability must extend throughout the chain of command.”...

Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said he remains supportive of Wiedefeld’s efforts but is frustrated by the depth of the problems revealed by the FTA. “This all stems back to the systematic and managerial problems that have existed for many years,” Layne said. “If we could write another report to make this go away, it would go away. . . . The only people who can make this go away are the management at WMATA.”"