State Contract for Lawyer on Hold Amid Controversy

A $200,000 contract for lawyer William Lansford is currently on hold as Alabama lawmakers express concerns over an ongoing and costly prison lawsuit. This deal was intended for court filings linked to a civil case in Montgomery County that has been active since 2018, involving the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Recently, Lansford, along with two other attorneys, was scrutinized after it was discovered that some citations in their submissions were fabricated by artificial intelligence.

Chris England, president of D-Tuscaloosa, emphasized the protracted nature of the lawsuit and raised alarms about Lansford’s AI use in filings. “This is a new $200,000 deal,” England mentioned. “As taxpayers in Alabama, we are witnessing cases that linger on without resolution, and it raises concerns about the efficacy of AI in legal processes.”

England pointed out that this case has been dragging on for seven years, questioning whether continuing in this manner benefits the state’s interests. He suggested that resolving such lawsuits could potentially be achieved more efficiently.

“If the Department of Corrections is sued, will they gather all plaintiffs across the state and just leave them waiting? What is the cost of resolving these cases? We’ve likely spent far more on legal fees than necessary,” he remarked.

England, himself a lawyer, described the “permanent cycle of litigation” associated with issues like overcrowding and medical neglect. He called for the Attorney General’s office to provide clarity on the total number of pending prison-related cases and the state’s approach—whether looking for consent settlements or opting for trials.

In response, Senator Tom Butler of R-Madison suggested postponing the Lansford deal until receiving concrete answers. “We need some clarity,” Butler stated.

While the scrutiny of AI has heightened oversight on Lansford, committee members reiterated that their worries pertain to all legal documentary cases. Lawmakers are eager to understand if there is a proactive strategy in place to address these lawsuits and cut down on legal expenses, rather than merely reacting to each claim as it arises.

“This firm that Lansford is part of is, in many ways, operating like a governmental entity,” England added. “We are compensating Lansford more than we do for certain government agencies.”