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
Major-US-Lender-Takes-Issue-with-New-Capital-Rules
JP Morgan has publicly challenged the Federal Reserve’s latest capital‑rule proposal, arguing that the changes will raise its funding costs and erode profitability. The Fed’s revised Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) and risk‑weight adjustments target large, complex banks, potentially increasing their risk‑weighted assets. While JP Morgan anticipates higher charges, smaller lenders and those with lighter balance sheets stand to benefit from reduced capital burdens. The dispute highlights a broader industry debate over the balance between financial stability and credit availability.
Massachusetts Federal Court Tees Up Broader Preliminary Injunction of ACTS Survey
A Massachusetts federal court issued a new temporary restraining order that pushes the compliance deadline for the Education Department’s ACTS survey to April 24, 2026 for a coalition of higher‑education associations and independent colleges. The order follows a prior preliminary injunction that...
Closing the Gaps: Managing Operational Risk in the Consumer Products Industry
Consumer‑products manufacturers face mounting operational risk as state‑level regulations, aggressive product‑claim litigation, and ESG‑related securities actions outpace traditional federal compliance. Plaintiffs now scrutinize the alignment of regulatory interpretations, sourcing practices, and marketing claims, targeting gaps in “Made in USA,” “pure,”...
Ripple's 11-Year Fight Leads to CLARITY Act Momentum
Yesterday, I celebrated 11 years at Ripple. Back then, I couldn’t have predicted that we’d still be fighting for regulatory clarity. The fight has been worth it. After a day in DC having great conversations with @SenatorHagerty, @berniemoreno, @SenatorTimScott, @JohnBoozman and...
NYC Mayor and DCWP Commissioner Announce First-In-The-Nation Municipal “Click to Cancel” Rule
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and DCWP Commissioner Samuel Levine announced a proposed “Click to Cancel” rule aimed at eliminating subscription traps. The rule, issued under Executive Order 10, would require businesses to provide a one‑click cancellation method for any...
Court Affirms A Finding Of Forgery But Reverses Awards Of Remedies Because There Was No Informal Fiduciary Duty Owed By...
The Texas Court of Appeals affirmed that a deed recorded by Darrell was forged, declaring it void ab initio and removing the cloud on title to the family ranch. The court also held that no informal fiduciary duty existed between...
Democrat Judge Bans Maine Mom From Taking Daughter to Church: Video
In December 2024 a Portland District Court judge in Maine modified custody, giving father Matthew Bradeen sole authority over religious decisions for their 12‑year‑old daughter. The order bars mother Emily Bickford from taking the child to Calvary Chapel, reading the...
Bondi Subpoena Explicitly Cites U.S. Attorney General
I HAVE THE ACTUAL BONDI SUBPOENA AND IT DOES IN FACT SAY "ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES" You have undoubtedly heard that Bondi is resisting honouring the subpoena from the House of Representatives, using as an excuse that it was...
Key Takeaways From Oregon’s 2026 Legislative Session
Oregon’s 2026 legislative session enacted a suite of labor‑focused statutes, most notably HB 4089, which escalates criminal penalties for wage‑theft and unlicensed construction contracting. HB 4111 and SB 1570 tighten immigration‑status protections, barring its use in civil litigation and treating it as protected...
California Employment News: Considerations for Employee Termination
Weintraub Tobin attorneys Nikki Mahmoudi and John Slavik explain California’s employee‑termination landscape, stressing the legal risks of careless dismissals. They outline the state’s at‑will doctrine nuances, required documentation, and compliance steps employers must follow. The episode offers practical guidance on final‑pay timing,...
The Chancery Lane Project Unveils New AI-Tool for Climate Contracts
The Chancery Lane Project has launched a new suite of AI‑driven digital tools aimed at helping lawyers, procurement officers, and sustainability professionals draft and evaluate climate‑aligned contracts. The platform leverages natural‑language processing to flag non‑compliant clauses, benchmark targets against science‑based...
The IP Social Club: Why Handshakes Are a Founder’s Ruin
The article uses the film *The Social Network* as a cautionary tale to illustrate how informal handshakes and missing paperwork can cripple a tech startup. It highlights three critical failures: the absence of a signed Assignment of Inventions, vague equity‑dilution...
Good Riddance, Pattern Day Trade Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved FINRA’s proposal to scrap the Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule, ending the $25,000 minimum equity requirement and related buying‑power limits. The change also introduces new intraday margin standards that force broker‑dealers to monitor...
UPDATE—Texas Senate Bill 17
In March 2026 the Texas Attorney General released proposed rules to implement Senate Bill 17, dramatically widening the statute's reach. The draft guidance treats indirect and beneficial interests in real property as covered, adopts a look‑through approach to entity ownership,...
25-973 - Cook V. Commissioner of Social Security Administration Et Al
The district court denied Perry James Cook’s request to proceed in federal court without prepaying filing fees, following a magistrate’s recommendation. The court ordered Cook to remit the full filing fee within 21 days, warning that non‑payment would trigger dismissal...
23-424 - United States of America V. 878 County Road 1490 Rush Springs Oklahoma 73082 Et Al
On April 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma granted the United States’ motion for summary judgment (and partial summary judgment) in the case United States v. 878 County Road 1490, Rush Springs, OK. Judge...
25-1553 - Brena Escobedo V. Holt Et Al
The U.S. District Court in Brena Escobedo v. Holt et al granted in part a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, ordering that the petitioner receive a prompt bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) within seven business days or be released...
25-1372 - Boland V. Oklahoma City City Of
On April 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin granted plaintiff Boland an extension to serve the City of Oklahoma City in case 25-1372. The order requires the plaintiff to complete service and file proof within fourteen days, adhering to...
Excerpt: Swalwell, Blanche, Bondi & Presidential Records Act (with Mimi Rocah)
The Insider podcast examined a controversial Office of Legal Counsel memo that declares the Presidential Records Act (PRA) unconstitutional, a move unprecedented for the Justice Department. The memo, authored by Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser, argues the PRA violates separation...
Netflix Nets $2.8 B Breakup Fee After WBD Pullout
I did not know this till today about $NFLX Following the high-profile bidding war that concluded in February 2026, Netflix walked away with a $2.8 billion breakup fee (also called a termination fee) paid by Warner Bros. Discovery Netflix's Payout: Because...
John Deere Pays $99 Million To Settle ‘Right To Repair’ Class Action
John Deere agreed to a $99 million settlement of a class‑action lawsuit alleging it monopolized tractor repairs. The fund will reimburse more than 200,000 owners for costly dealership repairs dating back to 2018, though the company denies any wrongdoing. The settlement...
The Clarity Act Expected Move in Senate This Month, Floor Vote in May
The Senate is set to move the CLARITY Act, a crypto market‑infrastructure bill, forward this month with a floor vote expected in May. Lawmakers are negotiating a compromise on stablecoin yield, the primary obstacle to passage. Banking groups have opposed...
NAACP Lawsuit Accuses Elon Musk’s xAI of Polluting Black Neighborhoods Near Memphis
The NAACP, joined by environmental groups Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, filed a federal lawsuit alleging Elon Musk’s AI company xAI is violating the Clean Air Act by operating up to 27 unpermitted methane‑gas turbines that power its Memphis...
White House Proposed Budget Targets OFCCP, Section 503, and VEVRAA
The White House’s FY 2027 budget proposal again calls for defunding the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), aiming to cut the Department of Labor’s discretionary budget by 25.9 percent. It would shift the agency’s limited disability and veteran compliance duties...
US Department of Justice Launches Compensation Program for OneCoin Fraud Victims
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a formal restitution program for victims of the OneCoin cryptocurrency scam, leveraging more than $40 million seized through criminal forfeiture. The scheme, which defrauded investors of over $4 billion between 2014 and 2019, will allow claimants...
Senators Call on Court to Examine ‘Suspicious Circumstances’ Around Live Nation Settlement
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Corey Booker and six colleagues have urged the Southern District of New York to closely examine Live Nation’s surprise settlement with the Justice Department, claiming it was shaped by political pressure. The agreement was signed in early...
IEEPA Powers Reach the Supreme Court in TikTok Divest-or-Ban Fight
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to the IEEPA‑based law that forces ByteDance to divest TikTok or face operational bans. The dispute centers on whether the statute unlawfully burdens speech and exceeds constitutional limits while the government...
Legal Vendor Procurement: An Endless, Frustrating Journey
I’ve been in a company’s legal vendor procurement process since July and I fear it will never end
Prosecutors Storm Fed Renovation Site, Get Turned Away
NEW: Prosecutors from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office showed up unannounced Tuesday at the construction site for the Federal Reserve’s headquarters renovation, a new provocation in their investigation of the central bank. They were turned away. https://t.co/PzlKEBrlpn
Elite Vantage Conference: Cloud Integration's Impact on Tech Adoption
At the Elite Vantage Conference, leading attorneys examined how cloud integration is accelerating technology adoption across law firms. Speakers highlighted that moving to cloud‑based platforms shortens deployment cycles, cuts infrastructure costs, and enhances collaboration. A key focus was the rise...
Two‑owner LLC Isn’t Automatically a Tax Partnership
Simply because you have a LLC and two owners does not mean you have a partnership for income tax purposes. This will become a podcast episode at some point.
Antitrust Chief Cites Whiplash, Rejects Trial Oversight
"Not quite my tempo" After basing a speech on the honor of gangsters from the Godfather, antitrust chief Omeed Assefi approvingly quotes the sociopath teacher in Whiplash, Terence Fletcher. And says he opposes 'trials uber alles.' Weird from a Justice Dept...
Streamline AI Launches New Version of AI-Powered Platform for In-House Work
Streamline AI unveiled a major upgrade to its AI‑powered platform aimed at in‑house legal departments. The new version adds agentic capabilities that automatically handle intake, triage and high‑volume legal work, reducing manual effort. Built on large‑language‑model technology, it integrates with...
Indiana's Student ID Voting Ban Blocked, Victory for Democracy
Big win for #StudentVoting ( and democracy). Indiana tried to ban the use of student ID’s for voting. Now that law has been blocked.
Ohio Utility Corruption Trial Heads for a Do‑over
What to expect as Ohio utility corruption trial heads for a do-over #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/b1PIBdSYUb
Gavin Gray, Samantha Hoffman and Kevin Lauri Discuss Gavin Joining the Firm as Chief Operating Officer
Jackson Lewis announced that Gavin Gray, the former chief operating officer of K&L Gates, will assume the role of chief operating officer at the firm. Gray brings more than two decades of litigation and operational leadership experience to the employment‑law...
American Diabetes Association Applauds Virginia for Enacting Landmark Insulin Affordability Legislation
The Virginia General Assembly approved House Bill 1214, limiting patient cost‑sharing for insulin to $35 and extending caps to diabetes‑related equipment and supplies. The law takes effect July 1, 2026 and applies to state‑regulated health insurance plans, making Virginia the sixth state...
SEC Approves Elimination of Pattern Day Trader Rule and $25,000 Minimum: FINRA
On April 14, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved FINRA’s proposal to eliminate the Pattern Day Trader designation and the longstanding $25,000 minimum equity requirement for day‑trading accounts. The rule change also removes related buying‑power provisions under FINRA...
These Ex-Brown Rudnick Lawyers Used an MSO to Get Their New IP Boutique Off the Ground
Former Brown Rudnick partners have launched Miletus Intellectual Property Management LLP, a Washington, D.C.-based IP boutique. They tapped a Management Services Organization (MSO) to provide shared administrative, technology, and marketing infrastructure, dramatically reducing startup overhead. The firm also aligns with...
FTC Moves to Crack Down on Hidden, Unfair Rental Fees and Perhaps Bulk Billing
The Federal Trade Commission opened an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to curb hidden, deceptive rental fees, reviving the possibility of regulating bulk‑billing internet arrangements after the FCC abandoned its ban. More than 1,500 comments from industry groups, consumer advocates,...
AI Tools Help Estates Lawyers, but Cause Headaches when Clients and Litigants Use Them
Estate lawyers are rapidly integrating enterprise AI tools to automate document review, flag missing records, and generate heat‑maps that prioritize critical medical and financial data. The technology enables faster strategy development and reduces filing delays, such as the eight‑to‑ten‑week setbacks...
EU Officials Explore Plans for Teen Social Media Bans
EU officials, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, are advancing a proposal to prohibit social‑media access for anyone under 15 across the bloc. The plan, discussed with Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, mirrors...
NAACP Sues xAI over Data Center Pollution
The NAACP has filed a federal lawsuit against Elon Musk's xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech, alleging that the companies operate 27 unpermitted methane gas turbines to power the Colossus 2 data center in South Memphis. The suit seeks a Clean...
HDR Agreed to $12M Settlement With Miami Bridge Design-Build Team
HDR agreed to a $12 million settlement with Archer Western‑de Moya after the engineering firm was accused of under‑designing Miami’s Signature Bridge. The settlement also triggered the release of $30 million in fees that Archer had been withholding. A federal judge ruled...
3 Years After a Landmark Law, Some Pregnant Workers Still Don’t Get Basic Accommodations
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, effective June 2023, guarantees reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees, yet many firms still refuse basic requests such as seating. Recent EEOC complaints highlight Amazon and Speedway denying medical documentation and forcing pregnant workers to stand,...
Google Antitrust Settlement Offers $10K+ Advertisers Cash Refund
The Google antitrust remedies are actually going to lead to advertisers getting cash back. If you spent more than $10k on Google ads, you can file for damages here. The lawyer is Ashley Keller, he's a super creative antitrust litigator....
Baltimore Tower Owner and Contractor Settle Lead Paint Suit for $2.2 Million
The Maryland attorney general and Department of the Environment announced a $2.2 million settlement with Television Tower Inc. (TTI) and its contractor Skyline Tower Painting over lead‑paint contamination from the 997‑foot candelabra tower on Baltimore’s TV Hill. The lawsuit alleged Skyline...
U.S. House Lawmakers Move to Codify DHS Biometric Screening Abroad
U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul and Henry Cuellar reintroduced the bipartisan BITMAP Authorization Act to formally embed the Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program within DHS. The bill would empower foreign partners to collect and share biometric data on high‑risk travelers,...
New Crypto Warning as Pepeto Leads Verified Entries
Kentucky lawmakers introduced House Bill 380, which would require crypto hardware wallet makers to embed a reset mechanism for seed phrases and PINs, effectively creating a government backdoor into self‑custody devices. The proposal has sparked alarm among investors who view...
IRS Struggles Against Nonfilers with Large Foreign Bank Accounts
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration released a report showing the IRS’s Offshore Private Banking Campaign identified 405 high‑net‑worth taxpayers with undisclosed foreign accounts, yet enforcement was minimal. Only 12 of the 164 examined cases resulted in additional tax,...