Appellate decision · Nebraska · Family procedure · Enforcement
Nebraska Supreme Court strikes brief with fabricated citations in family contempt appeal
The court struck a self-represented appellant’s brief, reviewed his assignments for plain error, and affirmed a contempt order arising from divorce and parenting-plan enforcement.
Published November 3, 2026 · Reviewed by David Martino
In an appeal from a contempt order enforcing divorce-related obligations and a parenting plan, the Nebraska Supreme Court found fabricated citations and quotations in the self-represented appellant’s brief and struck it. The court said submission of misstatements of law or nonexistent authority may warrant sanctions whether a party is represented or self-represented. It chose not to dismiss this appeal and reviewed the assignments for plain error, ultimately affirming the contempt order. The opinion attributed the fictitious cases and legal misstatements to the appellant’s admitted use of generative artificial intelligence.