A Toronto lawyer connected to a tragic 2024 murder-suicide that claimed three lives has been sharply criticized by a legal tribunal for using artificial intelligence to prepare appeal materials, which included references to non-existent legal cases.
The Tragic Backstory: A Desperate Act Over Lost Savings
In June 2024, Alan Kats, who was financially ruined and suicidal after losing his family's life savings, shot and killed two individuals he deemed "predatory fraudsters" before taking his own life. The shooting occurred in the lobby of an office building near Don Mills Road and York Mills Road in North York.
Kats and his wife, Alisa Pogorelovsky, had invested $1.4 million into what they believed were syndicated mortgage loans, facilitated by associate Samira Yousefi and with funds held in trust by lawyer Shahryar Mazaheri. The money was allegedly misappropriated by Arash Missaghi's companies instead of being used for secure investments.
In a handwritten suicide note, Kats pleaded, "Stop these criminals from destroying peoples lifes (sic)," listing his victims and two lawyers he accused of assisting them, including Mazaheri.
Lawyer's Suspension and AI Misstep
Following a complaint from Pogorelovsky, the Law Society of Ontario investigated and provisionally suspended Mazaheri's licence in November 2024. The tribunal found reasonable grounds to believe he improperly disbursed the couple's money, noting he was either wilfully blind to the fraud or was used as a "tool or dupe."
In September of that year, Mazaheri filed a motion to lift his suspension, alleging tribunal bias. For this appeal, he utilized generative AI tools, specifically mentioning Grok. The tribunal's decision, released in late 2025, condemned this approach.
"Substantial parts of the applicant’s materials made no sense, referring to non-existent and misleading authorities," the panel wrote. Mazaheri apologized for his "over-reliance" on AI and promised not to use it again without verification.
Ongoing Fallout and Investigation
The Law Society's investigation into Mazaheri's conduct continues, and his fight to regain his law licence remains pending. The society's position highlights that Mazaheri was aware of Missaghi's history as a known fraudster and had limited experience with the complex syndicated mortgage transactions he was handling.
This case underscores the devastating human cost of alleged financial fraud and serves as a stark warning to legal professionals about the perils of using unvetted artificial intelligence in official proceedings. The tragic events of June 2024 left a family destroyed and multiple lives lost, with legal and disciplinary repercussions still unfolding.
