UK EAT warns litigants after 300-page ChatGPT skeleton in Hancox appeal
Deputy High Court judge Marcus Pilgerstorfer KC, sitting in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, on September 17, 2026 warned litigants in person that they remain personally responsible for AI-drafted filings after Terence Hancox submitted a 300-page, 132,000-word ChatGPT skeleton. The judgment in Hancox v Sutherland said unchecked generative AI output is unacceptable and that noncompliant documents are likely to be rejected.
Order (GOV.UK) → · Legal Futures, Law360
Key points
- Hancox filed a 300-page, 132,000-word skeleton he said ChatGPT created and told respondents to flag errors by 4pm next day.Legal Futures
- Judge said submitting generative AI output or shifting checking onto an opponent is not acceptable.Legal Futures
- LiPs must check AI documents for procedural compliance, factual and legal accuracy, and relevance.Legal Futures
- The EAT said a similar noncompliant skeleton is likely to be rejected in future.Legal Futures
- Judgment [2026] EAT 139 was published on GOV.UK on September 17, 2026.GOV.UK
Sources3 articles across 3 outlets
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