Judge Denies TD Jakes Attorney’s Bid To Collect $76k in Legal Fees From Lawyer Who Used Fake ChatGPT Case Law in Defamation Suit

A judge has ruled that TD Jakes’ attorneys will not be able to collect the more than $76,000 in legal fees sought against the lawyer representing the defendant in his defamation lawsuit, and instead will only be able to collect $5,000.

In October 2024, Duane Youngblood, formerly the leader of Higher Call World Outreach Church, appeared on Larry Reid Live, alleging that Jakes groomed him as a teenager and attempted to kiss him, an advance Youngblood claims he rejected. Youngblood, a registered sex offender with prior convictions for molesting teenage boys, and his lawyer filed a $6 million lawsuit against Jakes with the help of attorney Tyrone Blackburn, seeking to settle the matter privately and avoid pursuing claims of sexual assault and harassment from four decades ago.

Jakes rejected the offer and countersued for defamation, sparking a legal battle that Youngblood has struggled to defend. Last month, the judge rejected Youngblood’s motion to dismiss the case, during which the court uncovered fraudulent actions by Youngblood’s lawyer, who submitted court documents containing AI-generated falsehoods and fabricated case law, which the judge deemed “clear ethical violations of the highest order.”

Jakes’ attorney petitioned for $76,197.63 in fees, which they say is the cost to defend against the false ChatGPT arguments, but a judge has denied their bid. Instead, he ruled the amount to be an unreasonable request, especially in light of the defendant’s ability to pay, with The Christian Post reporting:

“Blackburn is a solo practitioner whose practice consists of representing indigent clients sometimes. Nonetheless, the Court believes that monetary sanctions are necessary to deter Blackburn from future misconduct — especially due to his decision to double-down on his misuse of AI after it was brought to the attention of the Court,” Stickman said.

He ordered Black to pay only $5,000 to Jakes’ attorneys in “monthly payments of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) to plaintiff’s counsel until the $5,000 is paid in full.” Blackburn was also ordered to make his first monthly installment “on or before November 15, 2025.”

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