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
California Contractor Ordered to Pay $468K in Wage Theft Case
A California contractor, SCA General Contracting, was ordered to pay $468,505 in back wages and damages to 137 construction workers after a Department of Labor investigation uncovered minimum‑wage and overtime violations from November 2024 through November 2025. The consent judgment also requires reinstatement of a worker who was terminated for raising pay concerns. The case underscores how layered subcontracting arrangements can conceal payroll abuses and complicate enforcement. Legal experts warn that similar fissured workplace structures put many low‑wage construction workers at risk of wage theft.
EU Eyes Rules Excluding Existing Corsia Phase 1 Supply
The European Commission is drafting rules that could render the entire existing pool of CORSIA Phase 1 credits ineligible for EU airlines. The proposal targets credits generated under high‑forest, low‑deforestation (HFLD) methodologies and those from projects with a non‑renewable biomass fraction...
Mediated Prenups for Children of Wealth Embarking on Marriage
Laurie Israel argues that traditional attorney‑driven prenuptial negotiations often create stress for children of wealth and their spouses. She proposes a mediated, three‑way process where a neutral attorney‑mediator guides virtual sessions, educates both partners on trusts, LLCs and other assets,...
The Future of Aerial Mapping: Why a Drone Pilot Is Suing for His First Amendment Rights
Michael Jones, owner of 360 Virtual Drone Services, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether North Carolina's land‑surveying licensing law unlawfully restricts his drone‑based aerial mapping. The state board claims his orthomosaic maps and 3‑D models constitute unlicensed...
UK Government Deploys Facial Recognition After Legal Defeat
Facial recognition systems are being rolled out by the government en masse in the UK after a legal challenge failed https://t.co/MBGN9olCI6
The Week in Data April 21: A Look at Legal Industry Trends by the Numbers
Law.com’s weekly data roundup highlights three major legal‑industry movements: U.S. firms continue to chase UK revenue, exemplified by Latham & Watkins reporting a $1 billion London earnings milestone; Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader have agreed to merge, creating dual New York locations and expanding their presence...
Contractors Sue to Block Trump’s Federal DEI Executive Order
A coalition led by the National Association of Minority Contractors and several higher‑education groups has filed a lawsuit to block a new Trump administration executive order that bars federal contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities.” The order threatens...
Court Rules Micro-Captives Not Listed Transactions
A Texas federal judge struck down the IRS’s designation of micro‑captive insurance as a “listed transaction,” eliminating the presumption of tax shelter abuse and the associated $200,000 penalties. The court retained the “transaction of interest” label, which still requires limited...
NFL Wins $27M Lawsuit Over Packers Cheer Song Claims
The NFL defeats a $27 million lawsuit accusing the league and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue of copyright infringement and antitrust violations over the use of Green Bay Packers cheer songs: https://t.co/XSQ6TJTIwl.
RBC Among Banks that Lose Appeal in U.S. Municipal Bond Lawsuit
A U.S. appeals court denied a motion to dismiss a class action accusing Royal Bank of Canada and eight other major banks of colluding to keep interest rates on more than 12,000 variable‑rate demand obligations (VRDOs) artificially high. The lawsuit,...
Kalshi Faces Likely NY Lawsuit After Coinbase, Gemini
“Legal expert Daniel Wallach noted that Kalshi is likely next after the lawsuit against Coinbase and Gemini. He explained that New York hasn’t sued the prediction markets platform because of the pending motion for a preliminary injunction.” https://t.co/F4FDlpNRvI
Sometimes Even a Solid Argument Isn’t Enough to Save a Bid Protest
The U.S. Navy awarded a $109 million best‑value contract for PMW 160 tactical networking, selecting Solute over Noblis by a $7 million margin. Noblis protested, arguing the agency improperly credited Solute’s affiliate past performance in a solicitation that was silent on the issue....
NY Regulators Could Force Nationwide Disgorgement, Personal Liability
“Wallach has also emphasized the scale of New York’s enforcement powers, pointing to the potential for nationwide disgorgement and personal liability for executives.” via @vcrosspoker @DeFiRate https://t.co/0KYB484nUY
Is the Ticketmaster Monopoly Verdict a Mirage?
The New Yorker’s Paula Mejía recounts a night of frantic ticket hunting for the Oasis reunion, only to be thwarted by Ticketmaster’s opaque queues and disappearing seats. The piece uses this personal experience to question whether the recent antitrust verdict declaring...
Ethiopia Risks UK Courts over Failed Bond Restructuring
Ethiopia’s sole $1 billion international bond restructuring collapsed after official creditors rejected a draft deal, citing comparability of treatment concerns. The bondholder steering committee responded with a pre‑action letter, warning it will seek enforcement in English courts in May. Negotiations on...
FCC’s Trusty: In Search Of The Public Interest Angel
At the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty delivered a speech urging the agency to revive the public‑interest mandate that former Chairman Michael Powell described as the “angel of the public interest.” Trusty outlined the Communications...
Kylie Jenner’s Ex-Housekeeper Sues Her For Alleged Discrimination
Kylie Jenner is being sued by former housekeeper Angelica Vasquez, who alleges discrimination based on national origin and religion, as well as pervasive harassment. Vasquez claims she was relegated to the most undesirable tasks, publicly humiliated, and suffered anxiety, severe...
The Supreme Court Just Twisted Its Cop Immunity Doctrine in an Even More Violent Direction
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a one‑paragraph, unsigned order vacating the 9th Circuit’s decision that allowed a civil rights claim over the death of Roy Scott, a Black man who died after officers restrained him during a mental‑health crisis. The Court’s...
Virginia Governor’s Amended Collective Bargaining Bill Would Leave Workers’ Rights Optional and Large Public-Sector Pay Gap Unaddressed
Virginia’s General Assembly passed a landmark collective‑bargaining bill that would shift the state from a largely illegal framework to a required‑bargaining model, potentially narrowing the 26.7% public‑sector pay gap and easing shortages among teachers, first responders and health workers. Governor...
Cults & Drug-Based Coercion: Lessons From Human Trafficking Cases for Cult Litigation
Robin Boyle‑Laisure’s article examines how recent sex‑trafficking prosecutions have expanded the legal definition of coercion to include the intentional use of addictive drugs. By supplying victims with drugs on credit, traffickers create debt and withdrawal fear, forcing commercial sex to...
Does A Shadow Docket Ruling Create "Clearly Established" Law For Purposes of Qualified Immunity
The Supreme Court’s emergency‑docket decision in *Mirabelli* halted California’s secret‑transition school policy, while its denial of certiorari in *Foote* allowed a comparable Massachusetts policy to stand, sending mixed signals to lower courts. The split raises a critical question: does an...
US Cracks Down on Crypto, Ignores Predatory Lotteries
It’s absolutely alarming that the USA government goes after select entities like prediction markets and crypto But not banning lottery tickets and scratchers that are on every street corner in low income areas. There is no debate on this.
7 Best Regulatory Change Management Software in 2026
Regulatory volume is surging, forcing organizations to replace spreadsheets and email alerts with dedicated change‑management platforms. A G2‑based review identified seven top tools—Optro, Visualping, Ideagen Policy Logic, Ncontracts, Apptega, Axeptio and Hyperproof—each catering to distinct compliance workflows. The guide highlights...
NRF Opposes FCC Call Center Rule, Cites Job Losses
The National Retail Federation says they oppose the FCC’s call center proposal. The FCC’s proposal would require operators to speak English and disclose the country they’re located in while onshoring call center jobs. They say this will cost overseas jobs. What do you...
Missouri Sportsbook Tax Increase Stalled, 10% Likely Remains
Missouri lawmakers will not discuss a bill to raise sportsbooks' tax rate to 34% of GGR after the bill's sponsor pulled it from consideration during a public hearing today; the bill may be considered again, but the probability increases that...
Federal Judge Breaks Trump’s Permitting Blockade
A federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction that blocks five Trump‑era tactics used to stall federal solar and wind permits. Judge Denise Casper found the actions likely violated the Administrative Procedures Act, striking down an Interior memo requiring Secretary...
Live Nation. Amazon. Americans Are Standing Up to Corporate Lawbreaking.
A jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster guilty of illegally monopolizing the live‑music market, while a California judge moved forward with a case accusing Amazon of coercing small businesses on pricing. In a separate ruling, a federal judge blocked the...
Marketing Roundup: Wading Into Politically Charged Waters, Culture Differentiation, And The Push And Pull Of AI
The Legal Marketing Association’s latest roundup spotlights three critical trends for law firms: navigating politically charged messaging by anchoring communications in core values, leveraging firm culture as a market differentiator, and balancing AI’s efficiency with the irreplaceable human touch. Each...
Copyright and DMCA Best Practices for Fediverse Operators
Decentralized social platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, and RSS mirrors can limit copyright liability by complying with DMCA safe harbor requirements. Operators must designate a registered DMCA agent, promptly act on takedown notices, maintain a repeat‑infringer policy, and avoid encouraging infringement....
Section 230 Helps Discord Defeat “Defective Design” Claims Regarding Sexual Predation–Jane Doe V. Discord
The Northern District of Ohio dismissed a Jane Doe lawsuit alleging Discord facilitated sexual predation, holding that Section 230 bars negligence, strict liability, concealment and misrepresentation claims tied to the platform’s design choices. The court classified Discord’s moderation tools, verification options...
Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Allegedly Blocks Payments to Win Cases
🤯 A new theory about Operation Chokepoint 2.0: @nadertheory told me his lawyers believe the point of cutting off your bank accounts is to keep you from being able to pay them for your defense so they win by default...
$90,000 Awarded for Constructive Dismissal of Restaurant Server
A British Columbia Supreme Court decision found that a high‑end Vancouver steakhouse constructively dismissed a server who had been approved for a six‑week vacation. The general manager pressured the employee to sign an exit form moments before his flight, violating...
Couple Sues Bank of New York Mellon, NewRez to Halt Georgia Foreclosure
A Georgia couple filed a lawsuit on April 20 accusing Bank of New York Mellon, acting as trustee for a mortgage‑backed trust, and servicer NewRez (Shellpoint) of proceeding with a May 5 foreclosure despite a pending hardship application. The homeowners claim the...
Jury Limits Insurer’s Liability in Shooting Case
A federal jury in Florida limited Kinsale Insurance Co.'s liability to a $50,000 sublimit instead of the roughly $5 million the lodge and victim's estate sought. The case arose from a 2015 fatal shooting outside the Pride of St. Lucie Lodge,...
Mr. Cooper Faces Class Action Claiming Inflated Mortgage Prepayment Penalties
Mr. Cooper, a leading U.S. mortgage servicer with a $1.5 trillion unpaid principal balance and over six million customers, faces a proposed class action alleging it misapplied prepayment penalties. The lawsuit centers on the ambiguous term “anniversary date” in a borrower’s...
Florida Homeowner Drags NewRez, Ditech Into Federal Court over Servicing
A Fort Lauderdale homeowner, April L. Young, has sued NewRez, Ditech and Paramount Residential Mortgage Group in federal court, alleging that mortgage servicing letters were sent years before a recorded assignment transferred the loan to Ditech. The lawsuit, filed April...
The DOL Is Rewriting the Rules of Independent Work
The U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled a proposed rule to overhaul how independent workers are classified, emphasizing the degree of employer control and a worker’s genuine profit‑or‑loss risk. After nearly two decades of litigation and policy swings, the rule...
Judge Acquits Penis Costume-Wearing Grandma While Saying Some Dumb Stuff About Probable Cause
A Fairhope, Alabama municipal judge acquitted 62‑year‑old protester Renea Gamble, who was arrested while wearing an inflatable penis costume during a "No Kings" anti‑Trump rally. The judge acknowledged the officer’s subjective motive but suggested there might have been probable cause...
FedRAMP and CMMC Compliance Deadlines Are Looming
Federal cloud and defense contractors face two critical compliance milestones before the end of 2026. FedRAMP requires vendors to submit machine‑readable authorization packages by September 30 2026 and to fully adopt NIST SP 800‑53 Revision 5 controls by September 30 2027. The Department of Defense’s CMMC...
NFL Defeats $27 Million Antitrust Lawsuit Over Packers Songs
A Wisconsin resident, Calvin McMillan, sued the NFL for $27 million, claiming antitrust and copyright violations over his “Pack Attack” and “Go Pack Go” songs used in a state lottery promotion. U.S. District Judge Byron B. Conway dismissed the case, ruling...
Clean Building Performance Webinar Series and New and Updated Guidance Documents
The Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) is hosting a webinar on May 6, 2025, to guide owners of Tier 1 buildings—those over 220,000 sq ft—through the compliance application process via the Clean Buildings Portal. The session will cover portal access, shared‑access setup,...
Marvin Kaplan Discusses New NLRB Nomination
Marvin Kaplan, a labor law partner at Jackson Lewis, weighed in on the upcoming National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) nomination in a Law360 piece titled “NLRB's Structure May Help Trump's Outsider Pick Acclimate.” He argued that the board’s bipartisan makeup...
OSC Presses Forward with Purpose Investments ESG Greenwashing Case
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has charged Purpose Investments Inc. with making 19 false sales communications about how ESG factors are integrated into its funds. The regulator also alleges that the firm’s chair, CEO and Ultimate Designated Person, Som Seif,...
OSC, AMF Québec and AMF France Sign Agreement to Facilitate Cross-Listing of Equity Securities Between Canada and France
On April 16, 2026 the Ontario Securities Commission, AMF Québec and AMF France signed an agreement to streamline cross‑listing of equity securities between Canada and France. The framework creates dedicated support teams, a formal dialogue channel and shared supervisory experience...
NY Law Lets AG Sue Repeat Fraudsters for Relief
New York Executive Law § 63(12) empowers the OAG to bring a special proceeding for injunctive relief, restitution, and damages whenever a person or business engages in “repeated or persistent fraud or illegality.” https://t.co/eoMaAfPv5g
When Distribution Friction Becomes Compliance Risk
Distribution friction is emerging as a hidden compliance risk that can stall product launches and expose firms to regulatory scrutiny. The article argues that distribution should be treated as a core governance function, linking product design, sales, and compliance rather...
Cheap at the Price: FTC V. StubHub and the Limits of Junk Fee Enforcement
The FTC secured a $10 million settlement with StubHub over undisclosed mandatory fees, compelling the ticket resale platform to refund affected buyers and adopt all‑in pricing. The case targets the agency’s junk‑fee rule, which bans drip pricing that hides extra costs...
NY Attorney General Pursues $2.2 B Claim Against Coinbase
The New York Attorney General's Office is seeking a minimum of $2.2 billion in damages against Coinbase. https://t.co/J7Ol4Uyvzk
Don’t Neglect Your CORE: Canada’s Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise
Catherine Coumans of MiningWatch Canada warned the All‑Party Parliamentary Group that Canada’s Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) has been vacant since May 2025, leaving 24 active human‑rights complaints in limbo. The office, created in 2019 to provide a non‑judicial avenue for...
Florida Launches ‘Criminal Investigation’ Into ChatGPT, Fueled by University Shooting
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI after prosecutors say ChatGPT provided detailed advice to the suspected Florida State University shooter. The state issued subpoenas for OpenAI’s internal policies, training materials, and law‑enforcement cooperation records, expanding...