Know What's Happening in Legal
Know What's Happening in Legal
NY Federal Court Limits D&O Run‑Off Exclusions to Unlawful Acts
A New York federal judge ruled that post‑cut‑off actions do not defeat D&O coverage unless they constitute unlawful conduct. The court found AmTrust’s 2019 preferred‑share delisting was a lawful corrective disclosure, rejecting the insurer’s reliance on the subsequent‑acts exclusion. The decision clarifies that New York’s “Wrongful Act” requirement hinges on illegality.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Oil majors acquire $164M of Alaska oil leases
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs announced that the agency is collaborating with Congress on the “Dalilah Law,” a bill that would codify the agency’s final rule barring most non‑U.S. citizens from obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The legislation mandates English‑only skills and knowledge testing, ties state compliance to federal funding, and requires every state to recertify all CDL holders within 180 days, with limited exemptions for legal permanent residents and three work‑visa categories. Barr emphasized an aggressive stance on driver qualification and indicated that enforcement details will be refined as the bill moves through Congress. The proposal raises questions about the administrative burden on state licensing offices and the impact on the trucking labor pool.
Walker & Dunlop dismissed members of its banking staff after an internal investigation revealed approximately $134 million in Freddie Mac multifamily loans were affected by borrower fraud, leading to a $29 million loss expense in Q4. The review also uncovered an additional $34 million...
A Congressional Joint Economic Committee report estimates that data‑broker breaches have cost American consumers roughly $20.8 billion. The analysis, sparked by investigations from The Markup and CalMatters, links the loss to four major breaches that exposed over 650 million records in the...
The Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 2026 aims to eliminate a tax‑code provision that blocks tribes from issuing private‑activity bonds for non‑essential projects. By granting tribes the same bond‑issuing powers as states, the bill opens a vast municipal...
Filevine has released a comprehensive guide titled “Legal AI: What Government Agencies Need To Consider,” aimed at helping public‑sector legal teams navigate the rapidly expanding AI market. The guide outlines how AI can improve government legal workflows, offers a framework...
The UK Treasury and OfDIA issued guidance linking the Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF) to anti‑money‑laundering (AML) obligations, stating that certified digital verification services (DVS) satisfy Regulation 28 customer‑due‑diligence (CDD) requirements. Regulated firms must still retain record‑keeping duties...
Samsung has agreed to stop collecting and processing Automated Content Recognition (ACR) viewing data on its smart TVs in Texas unless consumers give explicit consent, resolving the state’s lawsuit filed in December. The company will roll out clear disclosure and...
European regulators have escalated concerns over AI‑generated non‑consensual deepfakes, issuing a joint statement through the European Data Protection Board that cites 61 authorities worldwide. The statement targets platforms that embed generative image models, highlighting the surge of child‑focused sexual exploitation...
FAMIMOVE 3.0 launches on 1 March 2026 as an EU‑co‑funded initiative under the JUST‑2025‑JCOO programme, extending the work of FAMIMOVE 2.0. The two‑year project brings together seven universities from six Member States to study children in vulnerable migration situations. It will map child‑protection...
London’s Metropolitan Police will pilot an operator‑initiated facial‑recognition (OIFR) mobile app, powered by NEC’s NeoFace, with 100 officers over six months. The technology promises on‑the‑spot identity checks, avoiding arrests for station‑based verification. At the same time, a series of false‑match...
Indiana’s House Bill 1042, approved by both chambers, requires state‑managed retirement and savings plans to offer self‑directed brokerage accounts with at least one cryptocurrency option, and protects citizens’ ability to use crypto for payments and wallet custody. The measure awaits...
The UK government’s latest SEND reform consultation proposes ending the SEND Tribunal’s power to name education settings in EHCPs and shifting the duty to deliver the educational offer from local authorities to schools. Public‑law firm Rook Irwin Sweeney has filed...
The UK OECD National Contact Point has ruled a complaint from Senegalese artisanal fishers against the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas platform admissible. The complaint alleges pollution, denied fishing access, and an inadequate environmental impact assessment by BP and partners....
Danish media body DPCMO filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the AI giant trained ChatGPT on member publishers’ content without consent. The filing follows a wave of US lawsuits, including actions by The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, US News...
The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s ruling in Zaha Hadid Ltd v The Zaha Hadid Foundation, clarifying that IP licence agreements of indefinite duration can be terminated on reasonable notice. Sir Colin Birss C’s judgment aligned with earlier...
Frontier Airlines denied boarding to a passenger of Indian descent during a June 13, 2023 overbooked flight, offering vouchers but no seat. The passenger, an attorney representing herself, sued for $15 million alleging racial discrimination and breach of contract. The 10th Circuit dismissed the...
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the seizure of more than $580 million in cryptocurrency tied to Chinese transnational criminal groups. The operation was driven by the DC Scam Center and the Strike Force, a joint law‑enforcement initiative targeting cross‑border crypto...
The Senate Finance Committee unveiled the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, targeting IRS modernization and stricter oversight of paid tax preparers. The legislation introduces penalties for preparers who alter returns, fail to provide valid PTINs, or misappropriate refunds, while...
The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling that forced LJ & J Corp. to approve a total knee replacement for employee John Henry. The court held that an employer disputing causation cannot be compelled to provide alternate...
Michael Ramsey’s upcoming Notre Dame Law Review article revisits the originalist debate over the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, defending a broad interpretation that grants citizenship to virtually everyone born in the United States. The paper critiques narrower readings proposed by...
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint to permanently seize the motor tanker Skipper and its 1.8‑million‑barrel Venezuelan crude cargo. Authorities seized the vessel off Venezuela in December 2025 after it operated without nationality and falsely claimed...
The Supreme Court will hear Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, examining whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA) preempts state negligence claims against freight brokers for negligent hiring. The case stems from a 2017 Illinois crash where...
Nigeria’s EFCC testified that Arik Air funds were used to pay insurance premiums for rival carrier UmzaXpress, indicating improper financial flows. The testimony was delivered during the Lagos Special Offences Court trial of former Arik executives, AMCON officials, Union Bank...
Chinese battery giant CATL and German automaker BMW have signed a letter of intent to deepen their partnership, targeting data exchange for the EU battery passport. The two will run pilot projects using the Catena‑X open data ecosystem to enable...
Deepfake and voice‑cloning technologies are now cheap and highly convincing, prompting a wave of fraud incidents across Asia‑Pacific workplaces. Legal experts warn that manipulated audio‑video can trigger financial loss, data breaches, and even sexual‑harassment claims, stretching existing fraud and privacy...
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D‑NJ) and a Texas Republican introduced a bill to impose a strict timeline, or “shot clock,” on the Federal Communications Commission’s license review process. The legislation aims to curb prolonged delays in approving broadcast and wireless spectrum...
The Supreme Court heard Pung v. Isabella County, where taxpayer Michael Pung argues that a tax‑foreclosure auction sold his property below fair‑market value and thus violates the Fifth Amendment takings clause. The justices appeared convinced they will reject the takings...
A federal judge denied New Hampshire's request to stay a court injunction that blocks the state from abolishing its vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. The injunction remains in force until the EPA approves the state's plan to meet Clean...
At Harvard Law School's Rappaport Forum, legal scholars debated the Supreme Court’s increasingly controversial “shadow docket.” Professor Kate Shaw and moderator Richard Re led a conversation about recent interim relief orders, emphasizing that it is too early to infer systematic...
Houston-based personal injury firm John K. Zaid & Associates deployed EvenUp’s Proactive Personal Injury AI Platform. The AI rollout generated a 30% month‑over‑month increase in demand drafting and a 300% jump in settlement offers on low‑value claims. Automated medical chronology...
The SEC filed a lawsuit against Morocoin Tech Corp., three investment clubs and four crypto‑trading platforms, accusing them of a fraudulent token offering that promised outsized returns and left retail investors empty‑handed. The complaint highlights a novel legal question: whether...
California’s Air Resources Board has set an August 2024 deadline for companies to file mandatory greenhouse‑gas (GHG) emissions reports covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The state’s climate‑action statutes, including AB 32 and SB 32, require detailed carbon accounting to enforce its cap‑and‑trade...
Uber has filed a California ballot initiative to cap personal‑injury lawyers' contingency fees at 25% and limit medical damages, spending roughly $32.5 million on the effort. A coalition of attorneys, medical providers and consumer groups has mobilized $55 million to oppose the...
Frank Poe, former general counsel at Creators Entertainment, launched Poe Law PLLC in December 2023 to provide dedicated legal services for the rapidly expanding creator economy. His firm represents agencies, managers, creators, and brands, focusing on influencer contracts, payment structures,...
Oman has become the first GCC market to mandate natural‑catastrophe coverage within its Unified Motor Insurance Policy, effective 19 February 2026 after a one‑month alignment period. The scheme, built with Oman Re, Gallagher Re and the Oman Insurance Association, automatically protects third‑party...
The IRS announced it closed all non‑examined Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims on Dec. 31, 2025, yet roughly 41,000 claims remain in examination or appeal stages, many stalled without resolution. Appeals is severely backlogged, and the two‑year statutory deadline to sue for...
Sales promotion fraud is accelerating as retailers launch richer incentives in 2026, and AI‑powered bots and synthetic identities are now automating claim submissions at scale. Fraudsters exploit loopholes in cashback, rebate and trade‑in programs, using deep‑fake receipts and coordinated “promotion...
PayPal’s Working Capital loan system exposed personal data for six months despite holding PCI‑DSS, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 certifications. The breach underscores that passing audits confirms controls at a point in time, not continuous security resilience. Author Dharmesh Acharya argues compliance...
In this Legal Speak episode, hosts Cedra Mayfield and Patrick Smith interview attorney and journalist David Latt about former Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp’s resignation amid revelations of his communications with Jeffrey Epstein. Latt explains that Karp’s step‑down was a pragmatic compromise—remaining...
A New York appellate court ruled that U.S. Bank’s mortgage on homeowner John Williams is permanently cancelled because the bank filed a foreclosure action beyond the six‑year limit set by the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA). The bank’s four attempts...
The Supreme Court ruled on Feb 20th that IEEPA tariffs were invalid. CBP stopped charging them on Feb 24th. Expect lawsuits are already filed challenging the tariffs for entries dated Feb 20-23rd. But I expect those won’t actually matter as...
When we write the definitive history of IEEPA tariffs, this exchange - and what it represents - should get its own chapter.
Mortgage One Funding LLC, a Michigan‑based lender, faces a federal class‑action lawsuit alleging it used artificial‑voice technology to cold‑call consumers about cash‑out refinancing without prior consent. The calls targeted numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry, violating the...
📣NEWS: EPA's repeal of the endangerment finding is *already* surfacing in separate #climate litigation. Intervenors defending Vermont's "climate superfund" law today filed a motion saying repeal undercuts the EPA/DOJ position against the Vermont law. #energy #OOTT
For those still doubting antitrust and privacy law don't intersect, Meta just argued in DC privacy suit its biggest data scandal in its history wasn't material as users didn't exit whereas FTC has argued users sticking when its reputation was...
The Washington Supreme Court ruled that a recall petition against City Councilmember Lucy Lauser was legally insufficient because her topless protest on International Transgender Day of Visibility was protected expressive conduct under the First Amendment. The court clarified that Washington’s...
Donor-Advised Funds can be a good planning tool, but you give up legal control after the irrevocable donation. Peterson v. Christian Community Foundation dba WaterStone involves a $21M DAF sponsor ignoring a donor-advisor. @CNBC article by @HCuccinello https://t.co/KzEWeax1ER
California legislators could hit back at the Warner-Paramount deal by passing a strong state level merger law.
Meta has filed lawsuits in Brazil, China and Vietnam to stop firms running deceptive ad campaigns and has issued cease‑and‑desist orders to eight marketing consultants accused of helping advertisers evade its policies. At the same time, a coalition of leading...
Live animal transport, a niche yet highly regulated air cargo segment, is facing a surge in regulatory intensity, highlighted by the CDC's 2024 dog‑import rule with a three‑month rollout. IATA introduced LAR Verify, a digital platform that delivers real‑time, shipment‑specific...
