A lawyer representing the Houston Housing Authority is facing serious allegations of citing non-existent legal quotes in an eviction case. According to court filings obtained by ABC13, Lone Star Legal Aid claims Kevin Fulton, the attorney in question, included multiple fabricated quotes in a legal brief. An internal review by the authority confirmed those quotations were not properly verified.
Attorney Faces Serious Allegations
An attorney for the Houston Housing Authority, Kevin Fulton, has been accused of submitting legal quotes in an eviction case brief that allegedly do not exist. The claims were raised by Lone Star Legal Aid, representing a woman threatened with eviction. A court document reviewed by ABC13 states Fulton cited eleven quotes that the opposing counsel insists were fabricated.
AI-Generated Brief Suspected
The Houston Chronicle, which first reported the incident, revealed that AI detection software GPTZero flagged the brief as having a 73% probability of being AI-generated. This raised concerns about whether AI tools were used to prepare the legal document without appropriate oversight.
Housing Authority Responds Publicly
In a statement to ABC13, a Houston Housing Authority spokesperson said, “Since (The Houston Chronicle’s) initial inquiry, we have conducted our internal review. The brief in question was not routed through HHA’s Legal Department for review, as is our standard policy. Therefore, we cannot confirm whether AI was used; however, we acknowledge that quotations in the brief were not properly verified.”
Legal Experts Weigh In
ABC13 reached out to several independent attorneys about the growing role of AI in law. Cordt Akers, partner at The Akers Firm PLLC, stated, “It’s accepted, and frankly, at some point it will become expected.” Attorney Herschel Cashin agreed, saying, “Yes, I do think there is a place for AI in law.” Jedrick Burgos added, “(AI) does have a place.”
Verification Called ‘Essential’
While supportive of AI’s potential, the interviewed attorneys stressed the need for strict verification. Cashin warned, “You must double-check it.” Akers emphasized, “What is expected is verifying the accuracy of what you’re doing, whether or not you use AI to get started.”
Dissenting Opinion on AI Use
One attorney expressed clear opposition. Michelle Rogers told ABC13, “Because it’s improper,” explaining she believes AI should not be used in legal practice due to the risks of inaccuracies and ethical complications.
Case Officially Closed
According to the Houston Housing Authority, the eviction case in question has been resolved. ABC13 also contacted the woman involved, but her attorney advised her to refrain from commenting on the situation.
