AI lawsuit flood overwhelms German social courts

Social courts in North Rhine-Westphalia are struggling under an increasing deluge of lawsuits, a significant portion of which are generated by artificial intelligence. Jens Blüggel, president of the State Social Court (LSG), described these AI-produced applications and lawsuits as often lengthy, imprecise, and containing citations of hallucinated or irrelevant court rulings. This influx is pushing the judiciary to its limits.

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My appeal against this: Just talk to us, and if we have follow-up questions, please be reachable and answer them.

Blüggel appealed for direct communication with the courts, urging individuals to speak with them and be available for follow-up questions. He stressed that social court proceedings, which deal with existential issues like citizen's income, health insurance, and pensions, are designed to be accessible and low-threshold, requiring no court costs. "The essential facts on two pages are sufficient – if necessary, even handwritten," Blüggel stated. To assist applicants, the LSG has published a template for such lawsuits on its website and plans to increase contact with citizens via social media.

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The essential facts on two pages are sufficient – if necessary, even handwritten.

The number of urgent applications handled by the eight social courts in North Rhine-Westphalia has exploded, rising from approximately 1,400 in the first quarter of 2025 to 3,600 in the same period of 2026. The LSG, as the appeals court for urgent cases, has seen its incoming cases nearly double. Blüggel estimates that a large majority of these applications are AI-generated, often advising urgent proceedings. This surge in urgent cases means that regular main proceedings for other plaintiffs are being delayed. He added that many AI-generated applications lack valid reasons for urgency.

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We are with our backs to the wall.

"We are with our backs to the wall," Blüggel declared, highlighting the courts' significant need for additional staff. The ultimate success of these AI-generated lawsuits remains to be evaluated, as the phenomenon is relatively new. Blüggel expressed skepticism, suggesting they are often too imprecise and fail to get to the point. He also noted a decline in lawyers specializing in social law, partly due to comparatively low fees.

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But my thesis on this: It doesn't bring much.