[pkilgore]

In an adversarial system, you know that at the very least your opponent is checking your cases (you should also assume the Judge/clerks are too, but I never practiced enough in State courts to know how well that holds. In Federal District, it's absolutely true). Usually it's for incredibly small things, like unquoted/cited distinguishing remarks, later cases reversing the decision, and misquotes. So a whole case not existing is going to stand out like crazy.

Occam's Razor here is that this person was lazy, ignorant, careless, stupid, or any combination of those. To be intentionally fraudulent in this circumstance is the equivalent of trying to steal a gun from a cop. You're fucking with the one person in society who definitely has the training, motivation, and willingness to stop you.