At German labour courts, the burden from claims drafted with artificial intelligence is growing, according to ad-hoc-news.de, which relies on reports from 28 October 2026. As a result, imprecise or flawed submissions appear, which lengthen proceedings and carry financial risks for claimants.
Background
At the Baden-Württemberg labour court, according to the source, claim filings rose from 34,211 in 2023 to 38,019 in 2024 and 42,395 in 2025. For 2026 a projected 47,401 claims are expected, an increase of around 39 percent compared with 2023. At the Baden-Württemberg Higher Labour Court, 1,107 proceedings are forecast for 2026, a rise of 24 percent since 2023. Its president, Betina Rieker, said according to the source that increases of this scale had not been seen since the 2009 financial crisis. The wait for a chamber hearing after a conciliation hearing is reportedly up to six months, with the Stuttgart labour court particularly affected.
Flawed AI submissions
According to the source, AI-generated submissions sometimes contain entirely invented court rulings. Reports say this affects not only laypeople but occasionally lawyers too. Rieker warned according to the source that AI is not a reliable basis for legal disputes. Judge Steffen Hrubesch reportedly stressed that AI cannot handle complex assessments, such as those required for a conduct-based dismissal. The recommendation is to use the courts' official legal advice offices.
Cost risks
Under the Court Costs Act, first-instance court fees are graded by dispute value. According to the source, the fee is €516 at a dispute value of €35,000, more than €1,000 quickly above €100,000, and €4,138 at €500,000.
Assessment
According to the cited sources, an employee who files a claim based on imprecise AI wording may face both delays and high fees. The source does not establish that the rise in case numbers is due to AI submissions alone; it also names other factors, such as the tense labour market around automotive and supplier companies.
Sources
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