German man wins court case for the first time with ChatGPT instead of a lawyer
Kyiv • UNN
A resident of Leipzig successfully appealed fraud charges related to overpaid benefits. The man independently drafted an 18-page petition using the chatbot.
A German man won a court case with the help of ChatGPT instead of a lawyer. This is the first known case in Germany, UNN reports with reference to DW.
Details
Leipzig resident David Hinz was receiving benefits and looking for a job. As soon as a position was found, he started work a week earlier than expected, and benefits continued to be paid for another 7 days. As soon as the man discovered this, he immediately contacted the relevant agency.
Due to the extra 242.34 euros paid to the man as benefits, the Federal Employment Agency accused Hinz of fraud. However, Hinz decided to ask ChatGPT about his rights.
The hearing in Hinz's case was scheduled for March 2025. The man, with the help of AI, was able to draft an 18-page petition. In October 2025, it was granted. Despite some inaccuracies in the chatbot's advice, everything ended successfully for the accused - and such an "advocate" cost him nothing.
Hinz assures that the case was not about money, but about justice: a criminal record could have prevented the man from finding a job, which was already not so easy to find.