Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Biden filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio interview, arguing the release would be improper. The action has sparked political commentary, including remarks from former President Trump.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
MOH, A-GC to Refine Legal Aspects of Nicotine Exemption Case
Malaysia's Health Ministry announced it will meet with the Attorney‑General's Chambers to fine‑tune the legal response after the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted a judicial review of the 2023 exemption that removed liquid nicotine and nicotine gel from the Poisons List. The court found the exemption, driven by economic motives before the Control of Smoking Products Act took effect on Oct. 1, 2024, to be irrational. MOH emphasized the decision reflects robust checks and balances and reiterated its commitment to tighter tobacco‑product controls, especially for youth. Further actions will be disclosed after the consultations conclude.
Trump’s $1.7 B IRS Settlement Proposal Sparks Bipartisan Outcry
A proposed $1.7 billion settlement to end Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS has ignited bipartisan condemnation. Critics say the deal would create a taxpayer‑funded slush pool for political allies and could halt audits of the former president’s finances.
Rwandan Genocide Financier Félicien Kabuga Dies in UN Custody, Ending Decades-Long Trial
Félicien Kabuga, the alleged chief financier of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, died on Thursday in a The Hague hospital while in UN tribunal custody. His death closes a case that had lingered for nearly 30 years after the 100‑day slaughter...
HealthSplash Founder Convicted in $1 Billion Medicare Fraud Scheme
A federal jury in Florida convicted Brett Blackman, the founder of HealthSplash, of orchestrating a scheme that billed Medicare more than $1 billion for unnecessary medical equipment. The verdict underscores growing scrutiny of telemedicine platforms and durable medical equipment (DME) fraud.
U.S. Settles Adani Solar Bribery Lawsuits for $18 Million, Drops Criminal Case
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settled civil allegations against Gautam and Sagar Adani for $6 million and $12 million respectively, while the Department of Justice is poised to dismiss criminal fraud charges. The resolution removes a major compliance overhang for the...
Court Order Signals New Era for Shareholder Proposals Under Rule 14a-8
A U.S. District Court ordered BJ’s Wholesale Club to include a shareholder proposal demanding a deforestation‑risk assessment of its private‑label brands, marking the first injunction compelling inclusion under Rule 14a‑8. The decision rejects the company’s reliance on the “ordinary business” exclusion...
Anthropic Rolls Out Claude for Legal with 20+ Connectors and 12 Practice Plugins
Anthropic introduced Claude for Legal, adding more than 20 Model Context Protocol connectors and 12 practice‑area plugins, while Freshfields signed a multi‑year agreement to deploy the tool across its 33 offices. The launch targets the 87% of general counsel now...
Jamaican Court of Appeal Trims Sentence for Guncourt Convict, Upholds 20‑year Term
The Court of Appeal in Kingston reduced a two‑month credit for time served for Rohan Dixon, convicted of shooting a police officer in 2015, but left his 20‑year concurrent sentence unchanged. Dixon’s appeal argued insufficient evidence, a claim the court...
ROSE-Tinted Reasoning? The General Court on Colour Words
The EU General Court dismissed Rose Bikes GmbH’s attempt to register the word mark “ROSE” for clothing, footwear and headgear, finding it descriptive under Art. 7(1)(c) of the EUTMR. The court concluded that the term “rose”, understood as the colour pink,...
![[Video] Episode 415: DOJ’s Massive $550 Million Tariff Evasion Settlement](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://jdsupra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/profile-images/og.12022_1145.png)
[Video] Episode 415: DOJ’s Massive $550 Million Tariff Evasion Settlement
The Department of Justice secured a $549.5 million False Claims Act settlement with Perfectus Aluminum, marking one of the largest customs‑fraud recoveries in recent years. The case underscores the DOJ’s expanding use of the FCA to target tariff‑evasion schemes. Whistleblowers played...
Patent Firms Face AI‑Driven Client Self‑Service Squeeze
Patent law firms are feeling pressure as AI tools enable corporate clients to internalize more patent work. The shift threatens traditional fee structures and forces firms to clarify where their expertise adds irreplaceable value.
Big Law Insider Trading Scandal Spurs Calls for New Attorney Compliance Rules
A decade‑long insider‑trading operation run by former Big Law associate Nicolo Nourafchan has ignited a push for tighter compliance systems at law firms. Prosecutors say the scheme siphoned confidential deal information from multiple firms, exposing gaps in how attorneys safeguard...
Supreme Court Confirms Federal Courts Can Enforce Arbitration Awards in Pending Cases
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion authored by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, held that federal courts have authority to confirm and enforce arbitration awards in cases already pending before them. The ruling in Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties resolves...
Saturday Rewind: Lowering the Bar
The Justice Department has sued the D.C. Bar to block its investigation into former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark, who was indicted for his role in the 2020 election‑subversion scheme. Clark was the only DOJ lawyer to draft a letter falsely...
Texas Sues Netflix over Alleged Child Data Surveillance and Dark‑pattern Addiction
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on May 11 alleging that Netflix covertly tracks children’s viewing habits, employs dark‑pattern autoplay to foster addiction, and sells the data to advertisers. Netflix denied the claims, saying its privacy practices comply...
Colorado Governor Signs Updated AI Act, Raising Compliance Stakes for LegalTech Firms
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed SB-26-189, an updated AI Act, on May 14, 2026. The law requires notification when AI influences employment, healthcare or housing decisions and mandates five‑year rule reviews, forcing LegalTech providers to overhaul compliance features.
Maryland Challenges PJM Over Data Center Grid Costs Amid $1.6 Billion Bill Surge
Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel lodged a formal complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, alleging that PJM Interconnection’s cost‑allocation methods force residential customers to shoulder $1.6 billion in extra energy bills over the next decade due to data‑center demand. The...
Jury Awards $49.5 Million to Family of 2019 Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim
A federal jury in Chicago awarded $49.5 million to the family of Samya Stumo, a 24‑year‑old nonprofit worker killed in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash. The verdict, the second civil trial linked to the disaster, adds pressure on...
Former Latham Associate Launches Free Legal AI Assistant “Mike”
A former Latham & Watkins associate has unveiled “Mike,” a free, open‑source AI assistant for lawyers. The tool is positioned as a challenger to the paid legal‑AI solutions offered by billion‑dollar tech firms, potentially widening access to automation for the...
OpenAI Mulls Lawsuit Over Apple’s ChatGPT Integration, Threatening B2B AI Partnerships
OpenAI is evaluating legal action against Apple after the 2024 iPhone rollout of ChatGPT failed to meet revenue and usability expectations. The move could reshape how AI providers negotiate platform deals and impact B2B growth strategies across the tech sector.
The Nine-Step Playbook European Companies Can Follow to Help Their U.S. Operations Comply with U.S. Labor Laws
European firms eyeing U.S. expansion face steep legal hurdles under the National Labor Relations Act. A nine‑step playbook advises early retention of U.S.‑savvy counsel, leadership training, compensation benchmarking, and hiring HR executives with union‑relations experience. It also calls for a...
Biometrics Lawyer Dan Saeedi Talks BIPA on Biometric Update Podcast
Chicago biometric‑privacy attorney Dan Saeedi, a partner at Blank Rome, appeared on the Biometric Update Podcast to discuss the state of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) litigation. Saeedi has overseen more than 50 class actions, including the first BIPA case tried...
DOJ Pulls Misfiled New Hampshire Filing Meant for Minnesota
Just another normal day at DOJ where they have to withdraw a filing in New Hampshire that was intended for Minnesota.
Court Rejects Lawsuit Over Online Criticisms of a Dater–D’Ambrosio V. Meta
The Seventh Circuit upheld a district court’s dismissal of Nikko D’Ambrosio’s lawsuit against a Facebook group member, the group’s operators, and Meta. The court found his Right of Publicity claim unsupported because no commercial use of his likeness occurred, and...
Irish Court of Appeal Issues First Judicial Guidance on AI Use in Litigation
The Irish Court of Appeal, in the 2026 decision Von Geitz v Kelly & Ors, issued the first detailed judicial guidance on artificial‑intelligence use in litigation. The ruling warns that AI‑generated “hallucinations” can mislead courts, imposes a duty to verify citations, and signals potential sanctions for...
Jersey City Cyclist Sues Uber and Avride Over Autonomous Delivery Robot Crash
Conor Shannon, a Jersey City cyclist, is preparing a lawsuit against Uber and autonomous‑delivery firm Avride after a self‑driving robot entered his bike lane, knocked him off his bike and fled the scene. The case spotlights the first high‑profile legal...
D.C. Judge Flags “Red Flags” In SEC’s Musk Twitter Stock Settlement
A Washington, D.C. federal judge signaled concerns about the SEC’s proposed settlement with Elon Musk over his 2022 Twitter stock purchases, describing “red flags” in the agreement. While courts usually defer to SEC consent orders, the judge’s pushback suggests a...
What We Learned From the Cringey Courtroom Drama Between Elon Musk and Sam Altman
Elon Musk sued Sam Altman and OpenAI, alleging the nonprofit was illegally converted into a for‑profit entity that stole charitable assets. A nine‑person jury in Oakland is weighing claims that Musk was misled and that $134 billion should be returned to...
Greenpeace Anti-SLAPP Suit Blocked by International Antisuit Injunction
The North Dakota Supreme Court issued a narrowly tailored antisuit injunction that limits Greenpeace International’s anti‑SLAPP lawsuit in the Netherlands. The order does not block the Dutch case outright but bars any claim that hinges on the North Dakota verdict...
Callais Caps the Roberts Court's Comprehensive Takedown of Voting Rights
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Louisiana v. Callais joins Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and Rucho v. Common Cause (2019) in a coordinated dismantling of federal voting‑rights safeguards. Callais curtails the judiciary’s ability to enforce Section 2 of the Voting...
Former Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Granted Bond After Nearly Three Decades of Incarceration
Oklahoma District Judge Natalie Mai ordered the release of former death‑row inmate Richard Glossip on a $500,000 bond after 29 years behind bars. The decision follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Glossip’s conviction due to concerns over false...
Virginia’s Assault‑Firearms Ban Prompted Immediate Lawsuits From NRA and SAF
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a law banning the sale, manufacture and transfer of semi‑automatic rifles and high‑capacity magazines, effective July 1. Within hours, the National Rifle Association, the Second Amendment Foundation and allied groups filed lawsuits in federal and state courts,...
SEC’s Recent Public Company Settlement Provides Guidance for Corporate Resolutions Under the Current Administration
On April 20, 2026, the SEC settled an enforcement action against Key Tronic Corp. and two senior executives for violations of books‑and‑records and internal‑control provisions. The company agreed to cease the conduct but faced no civil monetary penalty, while the...
Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for $15 Million over TV Box Image
British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung in a California federal court, accusing the electronics giant of using her copyrighted image on television packaging without permission. The suit alleges copyright, trademark and right‑of‑publicity violations, and...
Supreme Court Keeps Telehealth Mifepristone Access Alive Amid Split Emergency Order
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order on May 14, 2026 that leaves the FDA’s telehealth rule for mifepristone in place, preventing a nationwide halt of mail‑order abortions. The 9‑2 decision drew sharp dissent from Justices Alito and Thomas,...
Weinstein Retrial Ends in Mistrial as Jury Deadlocks Over 2013 Rape Allegation
A majority‑male Manhattan jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in Harvey Weinstein's third New York rape trial, leading Judge Curtis Farber to declare a mistrial. The deadlock revives debate over the #MeToo movement’s legal legacy and leaves prosecutors weighing...
UK’s Junior Developer Crisis: How Visa Rules Are Widening the Tech Skills Gap
The UK Home Office raised the Skilled Worker visa salary floor for software developers to £49,400 (about $63,000) in 2026, far above the £29,204 average junior salary ($37,000). Because employers must meet the higher of the general threshold or the...
Speed, Scale and Regulatory Innovation, May 2026 - ILPA Takes Aim at Fund Formation Legal Fees
The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) released new guidance targeting the misalignment of fund‑formation legal fees, which traditionally fall on limited partners (LPs) without input on counsel selection or budgeting. The proposal introduces a fee cap set at the lower...
When Refusal Isn’t Enough: The Sixth Circuit Slams the Brakes on 10(j) Relief
The Sixth Circuit ruled that a mere refusal to bargain does not automatically justify a Section 10(j) injunction; courts must see concrete, certain, and immediate harm. Applying the Supreme Court’s 2024 Starbucks decision, the panel vacated an order compelling Trinity Grand...
Supio Unveils Supio Agent, AI Platform to Automate Plaintiff Law Firm Operations
Supio announced the launch of Supio Agent, an agentic AI platform designed exclusively for plaintiff law firms. The system automates intake, document processing and analytics, promising faster case evaluation and higher accuracy.
Lighthouse Earns Tier 1 Spot in Legal 500’s First Dispute Services Rankings
Lighthouse has been named a Tier 1 eDiscovery provider in Legal 500’s inaugural Dispute Services rankings, joining only four other firms. The Seattle‑based company cites more than 10,500 full‑service engagements and a new AI platform, LighthouseIQ, as proof of its market...
EU Provisional Deal Pushes High‑Risk AI Compliance to Dec 2027
EU negotiators have secured a provisional political agreement to move the compliance deadline for high‑risk AI systems from 2 August 2026 to 2 December 2027. The deal, part of the Digital Omnibus on AI, also extends the deadline for safety‑component AI to 2 August 2028, pending...
Tackling the Frontier: AML Compliance Challenges in Emerging Markets Unraveled
Anti‑money‑laundering (AML) compliance is becoming a critical hurdle for firms operating in emerging markets, where lax regulations, corruption and weak institutions attract illicit finance. The article outlines how fragmented legal frameworks, cultural norms, limited technology and scarce AML talent create...
Washington AG Sues Providence Health Over Pregnancy Accommodation Failures
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed a lawsuit against Providence Health & Services, accusing the nonprofit system of repeatedly refusing reasonable accommodations for pregnant and nursing employees. The complaint cites more than 300 accommodation requests since 2021 and alleges retaliation,...
Kalshi Seeks Ninth Circuit Stay to Block State Court Remand
NEW: Kalshi has filed another emergency motion for a stay pending appeal with the Ninth Circuit, but this one is to prevent the Washington federal district court from immediately remanding the Washington State AG's civil enforcement action vs. Kalshi back...
![[Video] The Briefing: Documentary Fair Use After Warhol: The Tenth Circuit Gets It Right](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://jdsupra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/profile-images/og.15496_4323.png)
[Video] The Briefing: Documentary Fair Use After Warhol: The Tenth Circuit Gets It Right
The Tenth Circuit issued a landmark ruling in Whyte Monkee Productions v. Netflix, reaffirming fair‑use protections for documentary filmmakers. The opinion, influenced by the Supreme Court’s Warhol v. Goldsmith decision, overturns earlier concerns sparked by the Tiger King copyright dispute. By...
Comcast Settles Data Breach Class Action for $117.5 Million
Comcast has agreed to a $117.5 million settlement to resolve a class‑action lawsuit stemming from a 2023 data breach that exposed personal information of millions of Xfinity customers. The deal, filed in Pennsylvania federal court, sets a baseline $50 payment for...
Eversheds Sutherland Launches PROPcast Episode 4 on Cyber‑security Risks in Smart Buildings
Eversheds Sutherland released episode 4 of its PROPcast series, a podcast that dissects cyber‑security challenges in smart‑building deployments. The episode spotlights the shifting responsibility for digital risk among owners, tenants and lenders as IoT adoption accelerates across commercial real estate.
Thomson Reuters and Sterne Kessler Debut AI Patent Claim Eligibility Analyzer
Thomson Reuters and Sterne Kessler have launched the Patent Claim Eligibility Analyzer, an AI‑driven tool built into CoCounsel Legal that delivers Section 101 patent eligibility analysis in minutes. The co‑development model places litigators at the centre of the product, promising...
California Hits GM with $12.75M CCPA Penalty, First Data‑Minimization Action
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, CalPrivacy and several county district attorneys announced a $12.75 million settlement with General Motors for illegal sale of driving data. The deal is the largest CCPA penalty ever and the first enforcement of the law’s data‑minimization...