Expert Witness Used ChatGPT to Write Report Defending 3M in $61M Explosion Lawsuit
An expert witness hired to defend 3M in a major lawsuit used ChatGPT to help write their report, according to evidence from the litigation. The $61 million case stems from an explosion that resulted in three deaths.
The revelation came to light through ChatGPT prompts that show how the expert witness generated portions of their report defending the company. Legal experts say this raises significant questions about the appropriateness of using AI tools to draft expert testimony in high-stakes litigation.
Expert witnesses are supposed to provide independent, professional analysis based on their specialized knowledge. Using AI to generate or substantially assist with these reports could undermine the credibility of such testimony and potentially violate court rules regarding expert disclosures.
The case highlights the growing challenges courts face as lawyers and litigants experiment with AI tools. While many legal professionals use AI for research and document review, using it to generate expert testimony raises distinct ethical and procedural concerns.
Courts have begun grappling with disclosure requirements for AI-assisted legal work, with some jurisdictions requiring parties to disclose when AI tools were used in preparing filings or testimony.