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
OpenAI Accuses Musk of ‘Ambush’ as $100 Billion-Plus Trial Looms
OpenAI alleges Elon Musk abruptly altered his lawsuit strategy in a “legal ambush” just weeks before a trial that could exceed $100 billion. In a Friday night filing, OpenAI claims Musk’s new objectives are designed to sandbag the defendants, inject chaos into the proceedings, and reshape his public narrative. The filing underscores escalating tensions as the high‑stakes case moves toward trial, centering on alleged misuse of OpenAI’s AI technology and trade secrets. The dispute highlights the growing financial and competitive stakes in the AI sector.
IBM to Pay $17 Million as Settlement Linked to Anti-DEI Probe — What Was the Tech Major Accused Of?
IBM agreed to pay $17.1 million to settle a Department of Justice false‑claims act investigation into its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices on federal contracts. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative alleged IBM tied bonus compensation to demographic targets and...
The Right to Eat in Prison
A recent Justice Department inspection of six federal prisons uncovered mold, insect infestations, broken freezers and unsecured knives, highlighting severe food‑service deficiencies. Because Congress has never set specific nutritional standards, the Federal Bureau of Prisons relies on internal manuals and...
Clients’ Barrage of AI-Generated Queries Risks Pushing up Lawyers’ Fees
Law firms are seeing a surge in AI‑generated client inquiries that demand rapid, detailed responses. Attorneys report that the volume and technical specificity of these queries are stretching resources and prompting many firms to raise hourly rates or introduce flat‑fee...
Kalshi Wins Reprieve From Arizona Criminal Case at CFTC’s Urging
Kalshi Inc., a Chicago‑based prediction‑market exchange, secured a temporary restraining order halting Arizona's 20‑count criminal indictment after the CFTC argued federal preemption. The Arizona case accused Kalshi of illegal gambling, including bets on state elections. A federal judge granted the...
Japan Legalizes Most Forms of Sex Work
I see the rest of the world has now discovered that most forms of sex work are legal in Japan
Registration Open: 2026 ABA Spring Administrative Law Conference, May 7-8, 2026, Washington DC
The American Bar Association’s Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Section is opening registration for its 2026 Spring Conference in Washington, D.C., scheduled for May 7‑8. The two‑day event features hot‑topic CLE sessions on May 8, including panels on post‑Loper Bright reforms, Trump‑era...
US Draft Registration Becomes 'Automatic' By Year-End: A Detailed Breakdown
The Selective Service System (SSS) submitted proposed regulations to the White House on March 30, seeking approval for an "automatic" draft registration system that will pull personal data from other federal agencies. The law, enacted in December 2025, requires the SSS to...
Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Securities Claims Arising From Reverse Split of Exchange-Traded Notes
The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a securities class action challenging Barclays’ 4‑for‑1 reverse split of exchange‑traded notes. The court ruled the split did not constitute a “sale” under Section 12 because it did not materially alter the nature of...
Panama Accuses China of Seizing Flagged Vessels, Raising Global Shipping Tensions
Panama’s foreign minister warned China on Wednesday that the detention of Panama‑flagged vessels in Chinese ports is a retaliation for a Supreme Court ruling that stripped Hong‑Kong‑based CK Hutchison of two Panama Canal port contracts. The move threatens the reliability...
Fidelity Warns Savers of MAGI Misstep that Can Trigger 6% Annual Penalty Before Tax Day
Fidelity Investments cautions that a surge in last‑minute IRA contributions is exposing savers to a recurring 6% excise tax when they exceed MAGI limits. The firm urges taxpayers to verify their modified adjusted gross income before making a 2025 Roth...
CJI Surya Kant Calls for AI Regulation Framework in Indian Arbitration Courts
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged the creation of a procedural framework to regulate artificial intelligence in arbitration at a Delhi conference. He warned that while AI boosts efficiency, it also raises confidentiality and independent judgment concerns, prompting a...
Five9 Acquires Inference Solutions to Boost AI Virtual‑Agent Platform for Legal Services
Five9 announced the acquisition of Inference Solutions, a market‑leading intelligent virtual‑agent platform, to expand its AI portfolio for contact‑center automation. The deal brings “digital workers” that can handle self‑service tasks such as client intake and document triage, capabilities increasingly adopted...
Massachusetts House Approves Bell‑to‑Bell Cellphone Ban and Social Media Restrictions for Schools
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill (S 2581) banning student cellphone use during the school day and restricting social media for children under 14, winning a 129‑25 vote. The legislation, championed by advocates like Emily Boddy, aims to curb...
When Funding Pauses: A Drawstop Playbook, April 2026 - Turning Off the Taps: Drawstops in Fund Finance
Drawstops are contractual clauses that let lenders halt new advances when specified events occur, serving as a middle‑ground between full acceleration and unrestricted funding. In fund‑finance deals they are most contested in revolving subscription lines and NAV facilities, where lenders...
Variance Secures $21.5 Million Series A to Deploy AI Agents for Enterprise Risk and Compliance
Variance raised $21.5 million in a Series A round led by Ten Eleven Ventures to expand its AI‑driven investigative agents for risk and compliance. The funding will accelerate platform growth for financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies facing rising fraud and regulatory...
Missouri’s Largest Gaming‑Terminal Operator Suspends Operations After AG Intervention
Torch Electronics, the state's biggest operator of skill‑based gaming terminals, agreed to cease all Missouri operations after Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s joint investigation with federal prosecutors. The move targets roughly 16,000 of the 25,000 machines deemed illegal gambling devices, intensifying...
Gusto Acquires Mosey to Add AI‑Powered Compliance for 400,000 Small Businesses
Gusto announced the acquisition of compliance startup Mosey, integrating AI‑based registration and filing tools into its payroll platform that already serves more than 400,000 small businesses. The move targets the $14,700 per‑employee compliance cost that hampers growth for firms with...
Monzo Shifts to EU, Launches in Ireland After US Setback
Monzo announced it will open accounts to Irish customers this week, aiming to serve the 14,000 people on its waitlist. The move follows a stalled US expansion and leverages the Dublin headquarters and a newly‑acquired EU banking licence to reach...
Payoro Becomes First Firm Registered Under Canada’s New Retail Payment Act
Payoro Finance Ltd. announced it is the first company registered with the Bank of Canada under the Retail Payment Activities Act (RPAA). The registration adds a federal payment‑service licence to its existing FINTRAC MSB status, giving the Toronto‑based fintech a...
The 99 Year Dilution Dilemma: What’s the Harm if No Confusion?
The article traces U.S. trademark dilution law from Frank Schechter’s 1927 theory through the 1995 Federal Trademark Dilution Act (FTDA), the Supreme Court’s *Moseley* decision, and the 2006 Trademark Dilution Revision Act (TDRA) that introduced a "likelihood of dilution" standard...
SEC Announces 2026 Inflation Adjustment to Qualified Client Thresholds
The SEC announced a March 27, 2026 notice to raise the qualified‑client thresholds under Rule 205‑3, increasing the assets‑under‑management test from $1.1 million to $1.4 million and the net‑worth test from $2.2 million to $2.7 million. A formal order is expected around May 1, 2026, with...
The Supreme Court Changes the Landscape for Contributory Liability
The U.S. Supreme Court in Cox Communications v. Sony Music narrowed contributory copyright liability to cases where a provider intentionally facilitates infringement. The Court rejected the Fourth Circuit’s knowledge‑plus‑continued‑service test, establishing two intent‑based pathways: affirmative inducement and a service tailored...
Supreme Court Puts Brakes on Interstate Sovereign Immunity for State-Created Corporations
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corp. that NJ Transit is a separate corporate entity and cannot claim New Jersey's interstate sovereign immunity. The unanimous opinion, written by Justice Sotomayor, applied an objective arm‑of‑the‑state test,...
Cardi B Wants Blogger Tasha K to Face ‘Economically Painful’ Sanctions for ‘Relentless’ Harassment
Cardi B has filed a motion in Florida bankruptcy court asking judges to impose economically painful sanctions on gossip blogger Latasha Kebe, who allegedly breached a non‑disparagement agreement tied to her Chapter 11 plan. The agreement delayed Cardi’s collection of a...
Consumer Protection Roundup
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed slashing its workforce to 556 staff, down from 1,100, after a year of funding uncertainty. The agency’s budget constraints stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill, leaving a regulatory gap in financial...
Canada's Energy Regulator Grants Pipeline Builders Entry Rights
Y'all are going to be big mad when you learn about right of entry provisions for the construction of pipelines in the Canadian Energy Regulator Act. https://t.co/bTzN0OWdPh
Double-Trigger Acceleration: What Every Startup Founder and Employee Needs to Know
Double‑trigger acceleration is a provision that only vests unvested startup equity when two events occur: a change of control and the employee’s involuntary termination. It has become the market standard because it balances employee protection with acquirers’ need to retain...
Children’s Rights vs Big Tech: What Hong Kong Can Learn From Landmark US Trials
U.S. juries recently awarded $6 million to a former teen and $375 million to a consumer‑protection claim against Meta, finding that Instagram, YouTube and other platforms use addictive designs that harm children. The verdicts frame social‑media firms as product manufacturers rather than...
LLC Vs. C-Corp for Startups: How to Choose the Right Entity
The guide breaks down the practical trade‑offs between forming an LLC and a Delaware C‑Corporation for startups. It explains how entity choice affects fundraising mechanics, equity compensation, tax treatment, and long‑term exit strategies such as the QSBS exclusion. Real‑world examples...
Colombia Pushes $4.4 B Tax Reform as Session Ends
JUST IN: Colombia's government is pushing a $4.4 billion tax reform bill to Congress as the session winds down.
Alabama Supreme Court Limits Reporter Privilege in NY Times Lawsuit
The Alabama Supreme Court narrowed the state’s 1936 reporter shield law, limiting protection to a source’s name and any information that would inevitably reveal that identity. The decision arose from former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears’ defamation suit...
Weekend Law: Kalshi, the 'God Squad' & Social Media (Podcast)
Bloomberg Law’s Weekend Law podcast episode, hosted by June Grasso, dives into three timely legal topics. First, it examines Kalshi, the first federally regulated exchange for event contracts, and its implications for speculative trading and investor protection. Second, the discussion...
DOJ Sues Washtenaw County over Immigration Enforcement Policies
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit on April 9 against Washtenaw County, Michigan, alleging the county’s policies deliberately obstruct federal immigration enforcement. The complaint targets the county board, sheriff’s office and prosecutor’s office for refusing ICE detainer requests...
CFTC Names Task Force to Set AI and Prediction Market Rules
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced the members of its Innovation Task Force, a new body charged with crafting clear rules for emerging technologies in U.S. derivatives markets. The five senior advisors—drawn from top law firms and fintech consultancies—join CFTC...
Great Wealth Transfer Fuels Trust Complexity, Poses New Risks for Fiduciaries
The $84 trillion wealth slated to move to heirs by 2045 is pushing trusts into the mainstream, widening asset types and geographic spread. Zurich North America’s Trey Martino warns that banks, fintechs and other fiduciaries now face heightened insurance and regulatory risks...
ExxonMobil, Empire Petroleum Sued for $194 Million Alleged Well‑liability Fraud in New Mexico
A New Mexico district court case accuses ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy and Empire Petroleum of undervaluing $194 million in well‑cleanup liabilities tied to a 2021 sale of hundreds of old wells. Plaintiffs say the alleged fraud could saddle the state with nearly...
UK Cracks Down on Harmful Online Pornography with New Crime and Policing Bill Amendments
The British government introduced amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that make possession or publication of incest‑related and child‑impersonation porn a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison. The measures also expose technology executives to personal...
Secret Grand Jury Subpoena Targets Reddit User Who Criticized ICE
Federal prosecutors have issued a secret grand jury subpoena ordering Reddit to appear before a Washington, D.C., grand jury and hand over the identity of an anonymous user who criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The company has until April 14...
Court Upholds Dismissal of 90s Espionage Case
Taiwan's Supreme Court affirmed lower‑court rulings that dismissed the espionage and embezzlement case against former National Security Bureau officer Liu Kuan‑chun, citing the statute of limitations. Liu was accused of diverting NT$190 million (about US$6 million) from the secret presidential Project Feng...
Kamala Harris Warns Supreme Court Will Gut VRA Section 2
The U.S. Supreme Court is going to “kill” Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), said former Vice President Kamala Harris today at the National Action Network (NAN) convention in New York. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/harris-warns-scotus-likely-to-gut-vra-calls-save-america-act-a-poll-tax/
Five Questions with Skye Perryman, the CEO of Democracy Forward
Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, leads a nonpartisan legal organization that defends American democracy through strategic litigation and public education. Recognized by Time’s 2025 100 Most Influential People and Washingtonian’s Most Powerful Women, she has a proven record of...
Nevada Supreme Court Rules Against Michele Fiore in Suspension Case
The Nevada Supreme Court rejected former Nye County justice of the peace Michele Fiore’s challenge to her suspension, confirming the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline’s authority to act. Fiore, who was convicted of wire fraud and later pardoned by former...
Roblox Looks to Dodge Iowa Suit over Danger to Children
Roblox asked an Iowa judge to dismiss a consumer‑fraud lawsuit that accuses the platform of exposing children to predators and illicit content. The company relies on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, arguing it is merely a carrier of third‑party...
Lawyer Reveals New Documents on Melania’s Legal Battle
HERE'S WHAT'S UP WITH MELANIA - FROM A LAWYER (DOCUMENTS AND FULL TEXT OF HER REMARKS YESTERDAY INCLUDED) {Note: this is a very long article, the full article covers Amanda Ungaro, the Wolff lawsuit, and so much more. So after several...
SEC Warns vs Unregistered Schemes, Crypto Platforms
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an advisory warning the public about the unregistered investment scheme “Ecocapsule,” which offered unusually high hourly and daily returns. The scheme’s mini plan promised up to ₱1,212.08 per hour (about $22) over...
Developer of Massachusetts Offshore Wind Farm Sues to Stop Turbine Manufacturer From Walking Away
Vineyard Wind, the 800‑MW Massachusetts offshore wind project, sued GE Renewables to force the turbine maker to stay on its service and maintenance contracts after GE announced it would terminate them. GE claims the developer owes $300 million for work performed,...
24-1206 - Lowther V. Marten Transport Ltd Et Al
The U.S. District Court issued a series of orders in Lowther v. Marten Transport Ltd et al. In January 2025 the court asked the parties to file a joint notice indicating consent to have the case managed by a magistrate...
26-225 - Dorman V. Bradshaw Et Al
On April 9, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued an order dismissing Dorman v. Bradshaw et al without prejudice. Judge Patrick R. Wyrick signed the dismissal, stating that all pending motions in the case are moot. The order leaves the...
26-331 - Martinez Caldera V. Noem Et Al
On April 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell denied a motion for a temporary restraining order as moot and partially granted Carlos Martinez Caldera’s amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The order compels the respondents, including Governor Kristi Noem,...