Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Joe Biden has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio recording of his interview. The action, reported by Axios and TIME, aims to keep the interview confidential amid political controversy.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Amit Shukla Launches SimplerToday.ai to Accelerate Justice for India's Last Person
Amit Shukla, former Accenture and KPMG executive, announced SimplerToday.ai, an AI‑first law firm designed to speed up India’s justice system. Leveraging large‑language models, the venture builds on his earlier EasyGov platform that reached half‑million daily users and targets the 30% exclusion error in social protection.
Taiwan's Taichung Land Bureau Launches Online System for New Standardized Home‑Sale Contracts
Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior introduced revised standardized home‑sale contracts on April 1, 2026, and Taichung City’s Land Bureau rolled out a nation‑first online generation system. The platform forces sellers to disclose solar panels, pressurized water equipment and concrete chloride levels,...
China and U.S. Data Rules Cramp Legal‑Tech Cross‑Border Flows
China’s April 7 Regulations on Industrial and Supply Chain Security and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Data Security Program create opposing obligations for legal‑tech providers that move client data across the Pacific. The clash forces vendors to redesign contracts, architecture and...
The Third Circuit Joins the FCA Constitutionality Debate
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court heard oral arguments in United States ex rel. Penelow v. Janssen Products, a qui‑tam case that produced a $1.64 billion jury verdict against Janssen. The panel—Judges Matey, Chung and Freeman—focused on whether the False Claims Act’s qui‑tam provision...
Making Tax Sense Out of March Madness
Starting in 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) limits the amount of gambling losses that individual taxpayers can deduct to 90% of their total losses, while the traditional cap that losses cannot exceed winnings remains. The change means...
AHA Urges en Banc Review of 4th Circuit’s West Virginia 340B Contract Pharmacy Law Decision
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and allied groups filed an amicus brief on April 17 urging the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear en banc a panel ruling that struck down West Virginia’s law protecting 340B contract‑pharmacy arrangements....
The Live Nation Verdict Won’t Fix Tickets. It Should Rattle Hollywood
A federal jury ruled that Live Nation functioned as a monopoly in the concert and ticketing markets, marking a rare antitrust victory for state regulators. While the decision could force a Ticketmaster spin‑off, the core drivers of high prices—limited supply...
‘Reasonably Knowable’ in EO 14398: What Prime Contractors Need to Know About Subcontractor Oversight
Executive Order 14398, issued March 26, 2026, obligates prime federal contractors to report any subcontractor conduct that is "racially discriminatory" DEI activity that is known or reasonably knowable. The order’s language ties the reporting duty to conduct "in connection with...
FDA Shifts to Single Pivotal Trial as Default Standard for All Drug Approvals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that a single adequate and well‑controlled trial will become the default evidentiary standard for all new drug approvals, replacing the long‑standing two‑trial requirement. The change, unveiled by Commissioner Martin Makary and CBER director...
Netgear Secures FCC Exemption, Keeps Wi‑Fi 6E Routers on U.S. Enterprise Market
Netgear has been granted a conditional exemption from the FCC’s ban on foreign‑made routers, letting the company sell its Wi‑Fi 6E Nighthawk and Orbi models to enterprise customers through Oct. 1 2027. The decision preserves a key supply line for businesses and telecom...
Law Professors Argue Abandoning The Diversity Rule Will Hurt The ABA’s Reputation
The American Bar Association is poised to vote on May 15 to eliminate its longstanding diversity and inclusion accreditation requirement for law schools. During a 30‑day public comment period, the ABA received 47 submissions urging retention of the rule and...
Time for Government, Business Leaders to Figure Out AI Cybersecurity Regulation
A Harvard panel of cybersecurity experts warned that rapidly advancing agentic AI is amplifying cyber threats, from AI‑driven phishing to sophisticated code‑exploitation, prompting calls for new regulation. IBM data shows AI‑enabled attacks on public‑facing software rose 44% year‑over‑year in 2026....
Media Bureau Creates Scripps-INYO Pleading Cycle
The FCC has opened a pleading cycle to solicit comments on whether E.W. Scripps Co. can reacquire 23 television stations it previously sold to INYO Broadcast Licenses. The original divestiture was done to satisfy local ownership caps that regulators are...
NYC Sues Landlord Over Illegal Short-Term Rentals, Says Airbnb Could Have Done More
New York City has filed a lawsuit against a Brooklyn and Bronx landlord and his associates for operating illegal short‑term rentals that bypass the city’s registration rules. The defendants allegedly created fake host profiles on Airbnb, then turned legally listed...
AI Reporter - April 2026
Two high‑profile federal lawsuits were filed in April 2026 targeting major AI developers. In the Northern District of California, xAI is accused of allowing its Grok chatbot to create child sexual abuse images from real photos without any safeguards. A...
Florida Agency Sues 42 Counties for Allegedly Flouting Bond Support Ruling
The Florida PACE Funding Agency has filed a lawsuit against 42 county tax collectors for refusing to collect environmental‑assessment fees that back $150 million in municipal bonds, despite a Florida Supreme Court order affirming the bonds’ validity. The agency warns that...
US Senator Asks for Binance Monitor Update Amid Scrutiny of Iran Sanctions
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote to the Justice Department and FinCEN demanding an update on Binance’s compliance with the anti‑money‑laundering monitoring program imposed after its 2023 settlement. The settlement required Binance to pay $4.3 billion and subjected the exchange to strict...
Unions Sue FLRA over Plans to ‘Politicize’ Labor Representation Decisions
A coalition of eight federal unions representing over 1 million employees has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), alleging that its new interim final rule unlawfully politicizes labor representation decisions. The rule, set to take effect on...
Why MTN and Airtel Temporarily Suspended Airtime Lending in Nigeria
Nigeria’s two largest telecoms, MTN and Airtel, have temporarily halted their airtime‑and‑data credit services—MTN’s Xtratime and Airtel’s similar offering—to align with the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non‑Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations introduced by the FCCPC in 2025. The regulator clarified it...
Nussbaum Lowinger Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Mark Nussbaum's former law firms, Nussbaum Lowinger and Mark J. Nussbaum & Associates, filed for Chapter 11 in New York, listing $100‑$500 million in liabilities against $10‑$50 million in assets. The bankruptcy halts an ongoing Alternative to Bankruptcy Court (ABC) proceeding that was...
Testing AI Systems for Regulatory Compliance
In 2024 Dutch regulators fined Clearview AI €30.5 million (about $33 million) under the GDPR for illicit facial‑image scraping, flagging the system as a high‑risk biometric tool under the EU AI Act. The fine, along with other international penalties, highlights how AI...
FERC Judges Conduct by Rules, Not Narrative.
This looks bad. But FERC doesn’t penalize market participants based on narratives. FERC’s approach is to parse the rules (RTO tariffs in this case) and decide whether the conduct violated the FERC-approved document. I don’t think this case is so clear-cut.
Litigation Trends to Watch: Suits Target Fertilizer Prices, Gambling Apps and Robotic-Assisted Surgery
A wave of new lawsuits is reshaping multiple sectors, from agriculture and gambling to medical technology. Plaintiffs allege price‑fixing in fertilizer markets, claim that sports‑betting apps are deliberately addictive, and target manufacturers of robotic‑assisted surgical systems. Parallel filings highlight broader...
Business Group Backs South Carolina Social Media Restrictions
The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce is filing a friend‑of‑the‑court brief to support the state’s Social Media Regulation Act, which limits platforms’ ability to display content, target ads, and collect data from users under 18. The law, effective...
Does a Customer Complaint Justify Firing for Cause?
The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that a customer complaint alone, without admissible evidence, cannot justify a termination for cause. In Williamson v. Brandt Tractor Ltd., the court found the dismissal wrongful, awarding the salesperson 17 months' notice pay, reduced...
House Passes Rare Bipartisan Bill to Protect Haitians From Deportation
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants for three years, voting 224-204 with ten Republicans supporting. Introduced by Rep. Laura Gillen, the measure cleared the chamber via a rare discharge petition—the...
Education Groups Opposed to E-Rate Bidding Portal
The FCC is set to vote on a draft order that would create a USAC‑run E‑Rate competitive‑bidding portal, slated to launch on July 1 2027 for the 2028 funding cycle. Recipient groups, including the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, argue the...
Workers Sue Employer After Harassment Complaint Line Found Disconnected
Three former employees of Reno‑based restaurant CBOCS West filed a federal Title VII lawsuit alleging pervasive sexual harassment and retaliation. The complaint line provided by the employer was disconnected, forcing one worker to report the abuse to a shift lead who...
What to Do After a Protection Visa Application Is Refused
An Australian protection visa refusal triggers a structured response pathway. Applicants must first dissect the refusal letter to understand the cited grounds and any appeal rights, then assess eligibility for a merits review or consider a fresh application if circumstances...
The Labor Agency Employers Worry Trump Might Break (Again)
Former President Donald Trump signaled a possible move to curtail the National Labor Relations Board’s authority, reigniting concerns among employers and unions. The NLRB, which adjudicates collective‑bargaining disputes and protects workers’ organizing rights, has faced legal challenges and political pressure...
No Safe Harbor: SCOTUS Scuttles the DMCA
The Supreme Court’s unanimous Cox v. Sony ruling stripped the DMCA’s safe‑harbor defense, replacing it with a narrow “inducement only” standard. The Court reversed a $1 billion contributory infringement judgment against Cox, holding that an online service provider is liable only...
Trump Picks DOL Workers' Comp Official For NLRB Seat
President Donald Trump has nominated the Department of Labor’s workers’ compensation director to fill a vacant seat on the National Labor Relations Board. The pick comes as the board struggles to maintain a quorum after several recent resignations and retirements....
Judge Sides with Arizona Election Official in Ruling that Has Implications for Midterms Voting
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled that the county board of supervisors illegally seized election‑related personnel, IT systems and equipment from the Recorder’s office, restoring the recorder’s authority over early voting and ballot‑drop‑box management. The decision affirms that the...
DOL Wage Rulemaking Could Face Injunctions Complication
The Department of Labor’s upcoming wage rulemaking is likely to encounter legal obstacles after the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. CASA Inc. The high‑court ruling left open procedural avenues for plaintiffs, allowing class actions to pursue relief despite the...
Paul Atkins
Paul S. Atkins was sworn in as the 34th SEC chairman on April 21, 2025 after being nominated by President Donald Trump. A former SEC commissioner and CEO of Patomak Global Partners, he immediately rescinded 14 unfinished rules covering climate...
Netherlands: Employers Cannot Assess Whether Employees Are Sick
Dutch labor law mandates that employers accept an employee’s self‑declared sick leave and cannot unilaterally dismiss the report. When an employer doubts the validity of a sick note, they must refer the case to a qualified physician for assessment. The...
When Workers Refuse to Stay in or Travel to War Zones
Donald Dowling outlines how employers should respond when employees on business trips or expatriate assignments are asked to remain in or travel to a war‑torn country. He explains the legal duty‑of‑care, the role of risk assessments, and the options for...
Niall Pelly: It’s Time for the Government to Be Transparent About the Pay Transparency Directive
Irish legal commentator Niall Pelly is urging the Irish government to publish clear guidance on the EU Pay Transparency Directive before the transposition deadline. The directive, which mandates pay‑gap reporting for firms with 250 or more employees, aims to close...
Unnamed Inventor, Invalid Patent
The Federal Circuit affirmed that Fortress Iron’s patent was invalid because it omitted a co‑inventor, Huang, and the court refused to correct the inventorship under 35 U.S.C. § 256(b). The decision clarified that any omitted inventor is a “party concerned” who must receive...
Closed Shop? Not for Long: How New Laws Are Opening Doors for Trade Unions
The UK is witnessing a surge in trade‑union activity as the Employment Rights Act of 2025 removes longstanding barriers to collective bargaining. The new legislation permits closed‑shop arrangements, simplifies union recognition procedures, and introduces stronger enforcement mechanisms. Employers will now...
Employment Tribunals Risk Being Swamped by Workers’ Rights Claims
The UK’s Employment Rights Act of 2025 expands the definition of unfair dismissal and introduces new procedural safeguards for workers. Legal commentator Ben Smith warns that these changes could flood employment tribunals with a surge of claims, potentially increasing caseloads...
Worker Sues Honeywell Alleging Racial Slur, Sham HR Investigations
A former Honeywell field service technician, Antonio Deaner, filed a lawsuit alleging race and disability discrimination, sham HR investigations, denial of ADA accommodations, and retaliatory termination. Dean claims he was passed over for overtime, subjected to a racial slur via...
TSMC Faces Class Action Alleging Systemic Gender Discrimination Across US
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is facing a class‑action lawsuit alleging systemic gender discrimination across its U.S. operations. The complaint cites a workforce that is 72.6% male overall and 85.4% male among managers, with women concentrated in low‑pay technician roles....
How Appealing Weekly Roundup
The weekly roundup spotlights several high‑profile legal moves: magicians Penn & Teller filed a Supreme Court brief challenging the use of investigative hypnosis in a Texas death‑penalty case; Trump‑appointed judges publicly rebuked a court’s refusal to rehear a COVID‑bias claim;...
Indiana Teachers Union Staff File Unfair Labor Charges After Alleged Retaliation
The Indiana Professional Staff Organization (PSO) filed unfair‑labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board on April 7, alleging retaliation after the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) put its president, vice‑president and a regional director on administrative leave. ISTA’s proposed...
Rebel Wilson’s Legal Faceoff With ‘The Deb’ Star Charlotte MacInnes To Be Streamed On YouTube
Rebel Wilson and Charlotte MacInnes will face off in a defamation hearing before the Federal Court of New South Wales on April 20, and the session will be streamed live on the court’s YouTube channel. MacInnes claims Wilson damaged her reputation by alleging sexual...
IRS Encourages Whistleblowers to Report Fraud at Tax-Exempt Groups
The IRS issued a new Whistleblower Alert urging the public to report fraud, misuse, or diversion of federal funds by tax‑exempt organizations. The alert lists specific misconduct such as false grant statements, self‑dealing, and misclassification, and reiterates that whistleblowers can...
Bill to Prepone Women’s Reservation Defeated in Lok Sabha
India's Lok Sabha rejected the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2026, which sought to advance a 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. The motion fell short of the two‑thirds majority, receiving 298 votes in favor and 230 against,...
Texas Court Enforces Non-Compete After Rival Employer Promises to Cover Fallout
A Texas Court of Appeals upheld a three‑year, 20‑mile non‑compete injunction against four Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who left Anesthesia Associates for competitor EmergencHealth. The new employer had promised to cover legal fees and damages, but the court ruled the...
Lawsuits Accuse Trio of Am Law 200 Firms of Running Afoul of Conflict Rules
A group of plaintiffs has filed lawsuits against three Am Law 200 firms, alleging they breached attorney‑client conflict‑of‑interest rules. The complaints assert the firms represented opposing parties without proper disclosure or consent, violating ABA Model Rules. Plaintiffs seek damages and claim...