Today's Legal Pulse
UK pushes commonhold reform to boost housing supply
The Draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill proposes abolishing leasehold and mandating new homes be sold as commonhold, tying the change to a target of delivering 1.5 million homes annually—the highest since 1968. The model remains untested, with fewer than 25 developments and unresolved issues around dispute resolution.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Cher’s Bid for Conservatorship over Son Elijah Denied by Judge
A Los Angeles County judge denied Cher's request for a temporary conservatorship over her son Elijah Allman, citing insufficient urgency. Elijah, currently held in a New Hampshire psychiatric hospital, faces criminal charges stemming from two recent arrests. The judge will revisit the matter at a second hearing scheduled for June. Cher previously argued that Elijah's $120,000 annual trust allowance is being spent on drugs and luxury expenses, a claim she has made since filing a similar petition in 2023.
COVID‑Suspended Interest Rules Revive 843 Refund Strategy
#TaxTwitter I am getting a little more excited about 843s under the Fleisher theory. This is the idea that interest limiting exceptions were suspended during COVID most notably 45 day rule and no interest till you file. On the...
Thought Experiment: It's 2030, and the Newsom Justice Department Indicts a Conservative Group for Paying Antifa Leaders
The article uses a 2030 thought experiment to mirror the 2026 SPLC indictment, proposing that a conservative activist group could be charged by a Newsom‑led Justice Department for donor fraud and anti‑money‑laundering violations. It alleges the group raised funds by...
DOJ Drops Criminal Investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Refers Matter to Inspector General
The Department of Justice announced Friday that it is closing its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and referring the matter to the Fed’s Inspector General. The probe had examined whether Powell knowingly misled Congress about cost overruns...
Congress Stalls, Xylazine Spreads
Xylazine, a veterinary sedative, remains unscheduled under the Controlled Substances Act, allowing unrestricted importation despite its presence in roughly 25% of the U.S. fentanyl supply and its link to thousands of preventable amputations each year. The DEA has detected the...
Veil Piercing Succeeds 30‑50% When Bad Cases Pursued
The data on piercing the LLC/corporate veil is sparse, jurisdiction-specific, and often misunderstood. The data generally shows that courts do pierce LLC/corporate veils, but but not routinely. And across multiple studies (state and federal cases), plaintiffs succeed roughly 30–50% of...
Weekend Dispatch...
The latest Small Bites post, titled "Weekend Dispatch," contains no substantive news content, serving instead as a teaser that encourages readers to subscribe for full access. The entry primarily features a subscription prompt, a brief greeting, and a placeholder image...
Most Taxpayers Unaware of Kwong Refund Deadline
#TaxTwitter - Hey what is up with everybody? I tried a survey asking how many Kwong inspired 843s people expected to be involved with and nobody answered. There was one comment. So how aware are people that there...
Supreme Court Case Threatens Half of Freight Brokers
The Montgomery vs. CH Robinson is an extinction level event for so many brokers and could wipe out 30-50% of all freight brokers over the next decade. We are on SCOTUS watch, as the decision is imminent.
CFTC Sues New York over Bid to Apply Gambling Laws to Prediction Markets
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop New York from applying its gambling statutes to federally regulated prediction‑market platforms. The CFTC seeks a declaratory judgment and permanent injunction, asserting exclusive authority under the 2010 Commodity...
Ballmer Accuses Aspiration Exec of NBA Info Swap
Steve Ballmer urges judge to punish Aspiration exec Joe Sanberg. Ballmer says Sanberg cut deal with NBA to share info on Kawhi in exchange for NBA writing letter to judge. Sets table for Ballmer to claim any NBA punishment relies...
Nevada Should Leverage Presumption Against Preemption in 9th Circuit
Nevada should run, not walk, to the 9th Circuit and file the CA6 order as supplemental authority since it applies the “presumption against preemption”—describing the relevant field as “sports betting, not futures trading.” States win every case where the presumption...
What Counts as the Woods? Judge Axes Nova Scotia’s Ban that Defied ‘Commonsense Definitions’
During the summer of 2025, Nova Scotia imposed an emergency ban that prohibited anyone from walking in the “woods,” levying fines up to C$25,000 (about $18,500 USD). The ban’s definition was unusually broad, covering forests, rock barrens, scrubland, marshes and even...
Rescheduling Marijuana Unlocks 280E Deductions for Joint Returns
I don’t want to stir the pot with my buds, but to be blunt, if you weed through the half-baked tax code and search high and low, you’ll find that rescheduling marijuana allows Section 280E business deductions—even if you file...
Jones Day's Pro‑Industry Brief Sparks Appellate Curiosity
I am impressed that Jones Day managed to come up with anything that supports the easement syndication industry's view of the world. I am looking forward to see what the appellate court makes of it. https://t.co/8UkCT0NPy7
How to Price a Government Contract 📌
The blog post highlights a common dilemma for contractors: either they have no clear price for a government bid or they drown in overly complex formulas. It clarifies that agencies expect a single price figure—not a detailed cost spreadsheet—and stresses...
Delta Claims Immunity After Passenger Handcuffed, Exposed, Denied Bathroom
Passenger Was Handcuffed, Exposed Naked, And Denied The Bathroom — Delta Says It’s Immune From Suit - View from the Wing https://t.co/p3ZDQnAf68
Hotel Sues Southwest Over Flight Attendant’s Room Flood
Florida Hotel Sues Southwest Airlines After Flight Attendant Floods Her Room On Layover - View from the Wing https://t.co/lf9w4teIo4
“In Supreme Court Fight Against Deportation Shield, Trump Says Judges Have No Role”
President Trump told reporters that judges have no authority to block the administration’s deportation‑shield policy, a stance that is now before the Supreme Court. The same Court is set to decide Monsanto’s Roundup cancer‑risk lawsuit, a case that could reshape...
DOJ Hires Intelligence Analysts to Hunt $500m Timber Trafficking Networks
The U.S. Department of Justice launched its first dedicated timber‑trafficking intelligence unit, placing two analysts inside the Environment and Natural Resources Division. The move follows a $500 million loss to American forest‑product firms and targets a global illegal‑logging market valued at...
AI Adoption Soars to 69% Among Lawyers as Access‑to‑Justice Gaps Widen
The 2026 Legal Industry Report reveals that 69% of individual legal professionals now use general‑purpose AI, more than double last year’s figure. Yet the same data shows access‑to‑justice conditions are stagnant or deteriorating, underscoring a growing tension between rapid technology...
Benevity’s SPLC‑Based Filter Draws Enterprise Backlash Over Conservative Nonprofits
Benevity, the employee‑giving platform used by nearly 1,000 enterprises, is under fire after it was revealed that many of its clients rely on a Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) hate‑list filter to block conservative nonprofits. Critics say the practice exposes...
11th Circuit Vacates $8.2 Million Roy Moore Defamation Verdict
A three‑judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an $8.2 million defamation judgment for former Alabama chief justice Roy Moore after finding the Senate Majority PAC’s 2017 ad did not meet the actual‑malice standard. The decision sends...
Florida Hotel Sues Southwest Airlines After Flight Attendant Floods Her Room On Layover
The Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, alleging that a flight attendant flooded multiple rooms by tampering with a fire‑sprinkler during a layover. The hotel claims $215,576 in damages, including lost reservations and cleanup...
Maine Governor Delays Decision on Nation’s First AI Data‑Center Moratorium
Maine’s legislature passed LD 307, a bill that would pause construction of AI data centers over 20 MW until November 2027. Governor Janet Mills has not yet signed the measure, signaling a possible veto. The move underscores a growing clash between economic...
Brazil Bans Election and Sports Prediction Markets, Targeting Kalshi, Polymarket
"... published a resolution banning prediction markets tied to elections, sports and other events" Will be recurring theme for Kalshi and Polymarket as they run into gambling jurisdictions abroad.. Brazil Blocks Polymarket, Kalshi Over ‘Illegal Betting’ https://t.co/lFX6dVWJLf
Passenger Was Handcuffed, Exposed Naked, And Denied The Bathroom — Delta Says It’s Immune From Suit
A Delta passenger who suffered a diarrheal emergency was handcuffed, stripped and denied bathroom access, leading to a $7.2 million jury verdict for bodily and emotional injury. Delta appealed, arguing the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) grants it immunity because...
Eighth Circuit Upholds Ban on Trespassing for Surveillance Purposes
The Eighth Circuit affirmed Iowa's §727.8A, a law that elevates the use of cameras during unlawful trespass to an aggravated misdemeanor for a first offense and a class‑D felony for repeat violations. The court applied intermediate scrutiny, finding the statute...
Skechers Launches PTAB Challenge in IPR2026-00343
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. filed an inter partes review petition (IPR2026-00343) with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board on April 24, 2026, challenging a patent likely covering footwear design or performance technology. The petition cites anticipation and obviousness grounds under 35 U.S.C....
CFTC Sues New York Over State Gambling Crackdown
“New York is the latest state to ignore federal law and decades of precedent by seeking to enforce state gambling laws against CFTC-registered exchanges..." -- Selig U.S. Regulator Sues New York State for Prediction Markets Crackdown https://t.co/Gej5T7AhIJ
Washington Moves to Regulate Deep‑Pocket Prediction Markets
"...could prove to be a tipping point for Congress, regulators and President Donald Trump’s administration to impose new guardrails on a deep-pocketed industry..." ‘Shot across the bow’: How Washington plans to take on prediction markets https://t.co/L2Df0vi88s
The Deepening DEI Dilemma
U.S. companies are confronting a wave of anti‑DEI pressure after President Trump’s Jan. 21, 2025 executive order revoked federal affirmative‑action rules and the DOJ issued guidance targeting DEI programs that receive federal funds. Proxy advisers ISS and Glass Lewis responded by suspending diversity...
Nevada AG Leads 38-State Coalition Defending Betting Regulation
Nevada "co-leading a coalition of 38 attorneys general in filing an amicus curiae brief defending states’ longstanding authority to regulate sports betting.." Attorney General Aaron Ford files brief defending states’ authority to regulate sports betting https://t.co/eEHGbHzzL8
A Special Forces Soldier Is Going to Prison for the Same Insider Betting Donald Trump Jr. Profits From Every Single...
Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Special Forces soldier, was arrested for placing $33,000 in bets on the prediction‑market platform Polymarket and turning it into $409,000 using classified information from a covert operation. He was charged with wire...
Is There Really Any Case and Controversy?
President Donald Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization have filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service seeking $10 billion in damages over the release of his tax return. The complaint was lodged in the Southern District of Florida, and...
Avelo Airlines Fired Its Only Female Captain Because Male Pilots Thought She Had a ‘Superior Attitude,’ Stunning Lawsuit Alleges
Avelo Airlines, a low‑cost carrier launched in 2021, is facing a lawsuit from Kimberley Duffy, its sole female captain, who alleges she was fired after male pilots and managers labeled her attitude as "superior" when she raised safety concerns. The...
The Week That Was
Lawfare’s weekly roundup highlighted a surge of high‑stakes legal battles and geopolitical shifts. The Supreme Court will hear Trump v. Miot, a case that could end temporary protected status for over 350,000 Haitian immigrants, while the DOJ moves to dismiss the...
Ghana Mineworkers Warn Local Outsourcing Rule Will Cut Wages, Jobs
Ghana’s mineworkers union, representing about 14,000 employees, is intensifying opposition to a new rule that forces international mining firms to subcontract all surface and underground activities to locally owned companies by December 2026. The union argues that local contractors typically...
Trump Administration Reinstates Firing Squads, Lethal Injections
They enjoy death. The Trump administration said it would allow executions by firing squad and restore the use of lethal injections in federal death-penalty cases https://t.co/9HGcFiSt8a
Kalshi, Polymarket Among 27 Prediction Platforms Banned in Brazil
Brazil's finance ministry and telecom regulator announced a ban on 27 prediction‑market platforms, including Kalshi, Polymarket, and Robinhood's forecasting feature. The crackdown follows Resolution 5.298 from the National Monetary Council, which will take effect in early May and restrict contracts...
DOJ Drops Criminal Probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Clearing Path for Trump’s Nominee
The Justice Department announced it is dropping the criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony on a $2.5 billion headquarters renovation. The move removes a key obstacle for President Donald Trump’s nominee, former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, whose confirmation...
Judge Halts Nexstar's $6.2 B Tegna Deal, Raising Antitrust Concerns
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley issued a preliminary injunction that blocks Nexstar Media Group from completing its $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna. The ruling follows a coalition of eight state attorneys general and DirecTV’s antitrust lawsuit, arguing the...
Russian Telecoms Seek Delay on $2‑Per‑GB VPN Traffic Tax
Major Russian telecom operators have asked the Ministry of Digital Development to postpone a new fee that would charge users 150 rubles (about $2) per gigabyte of VPN traffic beyond a 15 GB monthly cap. The request follows technical‑readiness concerns and...
Leasehold Can Be Abolished; Labour's Reforms Trap Owners
Odd piece which seems to acknowledge that leasehold is deeply flawed while simultaneously relying on quotes from vested interests who argue that it can't be reformed out of existence. The reality is of course that it can, and should. Hopefully...
Freshfields Signs Multi-Year AI Co‑innovation Deal with Anthropic to Embed Generative AI Across Firm
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has entered a multi‑year co‑innovation agreement with AI startup Anthropic to embed generative AI tools across the firm. The partnership aims to transform legal service delivery and marks a decisive step toward firm‑wide AI adoption.
FCC Expands Router Ban to Portable Hotspots, Leaves Enterprise Gear Exempt
The Federal Communications Commission has broadened its ban on new foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers to include portable and mobile hotspot devices for residential use. Enterprise‑grade networking gear, including industrial, military and large‑business equipment, remains exempt, a move that could shift how...
DOJ Proposes Rule Letting AG Halt State Bar Probes of Federal Prosecutors
The Justice Department has issued a proposed rule that would allow the Attorney General to step in and potentially delay state bar association investigations of federal prosecutors. Critics argue the move undermines independent oversight, while the DOJ says it curbs...
Alpha & Omega CFO Yifan Liang Sells 8,625 Shares for $302K, Sparking Investor Scrutiny
Alpha & Omega Semiconductor CFO Yifan Liang disposed of 8,625 shares for roughly $302,000, trimming his direct holding to 270,003 shares. The sale, executed under a Rule 10b5‑1 plan, comes as the stock has more than doubled in 2026, raising questions...
Florida Judge Orders Oscar Health to Cover $48,500 Pancreatic Cancer Drug
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Migna Sanchez‑Llorens ordered Oscar Health to authorize and pay $48,500 for an oral medication prescribed to Pablo Langesfeld’s advanced pancreatic cancer. The ruling challenges the insurer’s denial policy and could affect thousands of cancer patients facing similar...
Harvard Graduate Student Strike Highlights Growing HR Tensions in Academia
More than 4,000 Harvard graduate student workers began a strike this week demanding a salary boost that would double the current $26,000 base, an independent grievance process, and immigration safeguards. The walkout comes amid heightened scrutiny of universities’ labor practices...