Today's Legal Pulse
DOJ says Title VII disparate impact liability is unconstitutional
The Office of Legal Counsel concluded that disparate impact liability under Title VII violates the Constitution. The Department of Justice echoed this view, declaring employment disparate impact rules unconstitutional.
Also developing:
Bill Reintroduced to Hike Insurance Minimum to $5 Million
Congress reintroduced the Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act, seeking to lift the federal liability insurance floor for interstate motor carriers from $750,000 to $5 million and tie it to inflation. The bill, now backed by five co‑sponsors and safety groups, aims to better cover medical and property costs in severe crashes. Meanwhile, Volvo and Mack issued recalls affecting over 400 trucks to fix turn‑signal software that fails to meet FMVSS‑108 standards. In Georgia, the $134 million Gainesville Inland Port opened, offering a rail‑linked hub that will divert thousands of truck trips and boost container capacity.
Building Safety Regulator Enhances Digital Processes
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) announced a digital upgrade to speed remediation of high‑risk buildings. A new online portal will give applicants real‑time visibility of submission status. Enhanced data sharing with funders such as Homes England will improve monitoring of...
Google Faces Mass Arbitration by Advertisers Seeking Billions
Google is confronting a wave of mass arbitration claims from advertisers after two federal judges ruled its search and advertising‑technology businesses illegal monopolies. Lawyers have already signed up a sizable group of advertisers, with the first filings expected this week....
Hong Kong Lawyer Faces New Charges After Second Victim Accuses Him of Indecent Assault
Hong Kong barrister Simon So Shun‑yan, admitted to the bar in 2018, now faces additional criminal charges after a second victim alleged indecent assault. The new indictment adds two counts of common assault and one count of indecent assault to...
As the Big Portals Prepare to Comply with the Renters’ Rights Act, What About Facebook and Gumtree?
UK’s Renters’ Rights Act, effective May 1, requires all rental ads to display a unique property reference number and use compliant wording about pets, families and benefit claimants. Major portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket have already begun updating their...
De Gaulle Fleurance Elevates Four Lawyers to Partner in Paris and Abu Dhabi
De Gaulle Fleurance announced the promotion of four lawyers to partner status across its Paris office and Abu Dhabi platform, bolstering capabilities in disputes, international arbitration, intellectual property, AI, and corporate finance. The new partners—Lionel Attal, Esperanza Barrón Baratech, Charlotte Hébert‑Salomon and Racha Wylde—bring deep sector experience...
Iran Conflict: Resources for Your Form 10-Q
The article curates two key resources—a PwC report and a Sidley memo—to help public companies address Iran‑related risk disclosures in upcoming Form 10‑Q filings. It outlines how the conflict can affect fair‑value measurements, inventory write‑downs, insurance recoveries, and foreign‑currency exposure. The...
Maryland Legislature Votes in Favor of Support for Student Parents
The Maryland Senate approved SB420, the Pregnant and Parenting Students Support Act, sending it to the governor after a bipartisan vote of 41‑1 in the Senate and 103‑33 in the House. The law requires the Maryland Higher Education Commission to...
Founder of China’s Evergrande Group Hui Ka-Yan Pleads Guilty in Fraud Trial
China Evergrande Group founder and former chairman Hui Ka-yan pleaded guilty in Shenzhen to embezzlement, corporate bribery and fraud. The court’s statement confirms he diverted corporate assets and paid bribes to secure regulatory favors. His admission arrives as Evergrande continues...
Force Majeure Memos: Our Own “Waffle House Index”
A Faegre Drinker memorandum highlights how the Iran‑U.S. conflict triggers force majeure (FM) clauses in global supply‑chain contracts. The memo outlines the tactical battle between parties seeking narrow versus broad interpretations of FM language, especially around war, armed conflict, and...
Protecting U.S. Research From Foreign Influence
The U.S. government has intensified rules to protect federally funded research from foreign influence, especially programs linked to China. Beginning with a 2021 Trump presidential memorandum, both Trump and Biden administrations mandated disclosures of foreign ties, cybersecurity safeguards, travel‑security protocols,...
Crypto: Staff Allows Some Crypto User Interfaces to Avoid Broker-Dealer Registration
The SEC’s Division of Trading & Markets issued a staff statement that creates a narrow exemption allowing certain crypto user‑interface apps to operate without registering as broker‑dealers. To qualify, providers must run a neutral, non‑discretionary platform, charge only fixed fees,...
What You Should Know About CCPA Compliance After the California Attorney General’s 2024 Investigative Sweep
The California Attorney General’s 2024 investigative sweep spotlighted widespread failures in CCPA opt‑out compliance, especially among streaming and ad‑tech firms. The audit revealed deceptive, dysfunctional, inadequate, and fragmented opt‑out mechanisms that left consumers’ data exposed across devices and platforms. Companies...
AB 1940: California Moves to Expressly Protect Employees Experiencing Menopause Under FEHA
California Assembly Bill 1940, introduced in February 2026, seeks to explicitly add perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause to the definition of “sex” under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act. The bill would require updated workplace discrimination posters and a statewide...
Navigating Complexity in US Consumer Financial Services: A Look Back at 2025
Mayer Brown’s latest thought‑leadership piece reviews the evolving landscape of U.S. consumer financial services in 2025, highlighting heightened regulatory scrutiny, rapid fintech adoption, and shifting consumer credit patterns. The authors examine how new CFPB rules, state‑level licensing reforms, and advances...
Former Police Chief Commissioner Requested to Provide Evidence in CFMEU Case
Former Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton has been served with two subpoenas to testify in the criminal trial of CFMEU official Joel Shackleton, who is accused of threatening to kill the owners of an Indigenous labour‑hire firm. Patton’s legal...
Don’t Trust Listings; Verify Noise, Smells, HOA, Permits
The smartest home buyers don’t simply trust the listing or the disclosures because legally the seller may not be required to tell you something that can ruin your life. What are some things that you should be verifying? • Noise patterns....
DOJ Announces First False Claims Act Settlement Under Civil Rights Fraud Initiative: IBM to Pay $17 Million to Resolve Allegations...
On April 10, 2026 the Justice Department announced its first False Claims Act settlement under the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, with IBM agreeing to pay $17,077,043 to resolve allegations that its DEI‑related hiring and compensation practices violated anti‑discrimination rules in federal contracts....
Federal Circuit’s Holding on Patent Eligibility for Engineered Host Cells Dovetails With PERA
The Federal Circuit ruled in REGENXBIO v. Sarepta that a host cell engineered to contain an AAV capsid gene plus a heterologous non‑AAV sequence is patent‑eligible under 35 U.S.C. §101. The opinion leans on the Chakrabarty precedent and distinguishes Myriad by emphasizing the material...
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Narrows Who May Seek Recourse Through the Workers’ Compensation Act’s Fee Review Process
On March 16, 2026 the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that Scomed Supply, a durable‑medical‑equipment distributor, is not a “health care provider” under the Workers’ Compensation Act and therefore lacks standing to challenge payment amounts in the fee‑review process. The decision...
Hot Flashes, New Laws: The Rise of State Menopause Protections
State-level momentum is reshaping workplace protections as Rhode Island became the first U.S. state to explicitly ban menopause discrimination and mandate reasonable accommodations. The law fills a gap left by federal statutes, which only offer indirect recourse through sex, age,...
Murdoch Beats Trump's Suit on WSJ's Epstein Exposé: What's Next?
A federal judge dismissed former President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch’s media empire over the Wall Street Journal’s exposé of Trump’s contribution to Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book. Judge Darrin Gayle ruled the article met journalistic standards and gave...
Preventing Revenue Gaps Between Case Completion and Payment
Law firms are losing cash flow as revenue sits in “lockup” for an average of 110‑140 days after a matter is completed. Delayed invoicing, unclear payment terms, and manual processing cause final invoices to age, reducing collectability. Structured billing workflows,...
Eversheds Sutherland’s International Arm Makes up 25 Partners
Eversheds Sutherland International promoted 25 lawyers to partner, with 16 based in the UK and a heavy emphasis on corporate finance and litigation. Women account for only 40% of the new partners, a drop from the previous four years when...
A Cross-Country Trio of Appellate Decisions Tackles Novel LLC Disputes
Three recent appellate decisions illuminate how courts resolve novel LLC disputes across state lines. The Montana Supreme Court affirmed that an operating agreement can contain parallel amendment mechanisms—one requiring a super‑majority vote and another allowing unanimous written consent—thereby rejecting a...
School Districts Can Be Vicariously Liable When Students Are Sexually Abused by Their Employees
On March 11, 2026 the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in *Hornor* and *Simpkins* that school districts can be held vicariously liable for sexual abuse by employees, even when the conduct occurs outside the scope of employment. The decision interprets the 2019 amendment...
FCC Names ioXt Alliance Lead Administrator for Cyber Trust Mark Program
The Federal Communications Commission appointed the non‑profit ioXt Alliance as lead administrator of its Cyber Trust Mark program, replacing UL Solutions, which stepped down after a probe into its Chinese ties. The move is intended to give consumers a clear...
Polish Regulator Fines XTB 20 M Zł ($5.5 M) for MiFID II CFD Violations
Poland's Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) imposed a 20 million‑zł (about $5.5 million) penalty on brokerage XTB SA for mis‑selling contracts for difference. The regulator said the broker failed to assess client knowledge, target the right market and disclose CFD risks, a breach...
Karnataka Drafts AI Law Mandating Deep‑Fake Labels, 24‑Hour Takedowns
Karnataka's State Policy and Planning Commission has drafted the Karnataka Responsible Social Media & Digital Safety Bill, 2026, requiring platforms to label AI‑generated deepfakes and remove harmful content within 24‑48 hours. The proposal also creates a new state regulator to...
Federal Judge Dismisses Anthem's No Surprises Act Lawsuit, Delivering Win for 20,000 Providers
A federal magistrate in California dismissed Anthem Blue Cross's lawsuit targeting HaloMD and dozens of California providers, citing a lack of legal basis. The ruling upholds the No Surprises Act’s independent dispute‑resolution mechanism, a safeguard for roughly 30 million patients and...
ECB Issues First Macroprudential Bulletin on Tokenised Capital Markets, Flagging $45bn Asset Surge
The European Central Bank released its 33rd Macroprudential Bulletin, devoted entirely to tokenised capital markets. The report notes that tokenised assets on public blockchains have reached a $45 billion market cap, prompting the ECB to outline infrastructure plans and risk safeguards...
Juicyway Secures FCA Licence, Launches UK‑Africa Payments Corridor
Juicyway has been granted an Authorised Payment Institution licence by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, clearing the regulatory hurdle to launch remittance, multi‑currency and FX services for the African diaspora. The approval positions the fintech to tap a corridor that...
Bank of Korea Proposes Stock‑Style Circuit Breakers for Bitcoin Exchanges to Tame Volatility
The Bank of Korea announced a plan to install stock‑market‑style circuit breakers on domestic Bitcoin exchanges, aiming to auto‑halt trading when prices swing sharply. The move follows a February Bithumb error that generated a phantom $43 billion distribution and a 17%...
ECB Backs Shift of Crypto Supervision to ESMA, Sparking EU Regulatory Rift
The European Central Bank has formally endorsed a proposal to transfer direct supervision of systemically important crypto‑asset firms to the European Securities and Markets Authority. The move, part of the EU’s Capital Markets Union package, faces opposition from Ireland, Luxembourg...
Supreme Court Backs New Trial on Meta's Child Harm
"Spokespeople for Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment." In case you missed this late Friday, Meta has to face another trial for child harm. This time the Supreme Court of MA weighed in. $200B+ of advertisers fund...
Investigation Links Epstein’s USVI Shells to Global Offshore Leaks
NEW INVESTIGATION FROM THE PROJECTS CONNECTS THE EPSTEIN DOTS FROM THE U.S. THROUGH THE USVI INTO FAR-FLUNG COUNTRIES AND JURISDICTIONS Three of Epstein's six USVI shells — Zorro Development Corporation, LSJ LLC, and NES LLC — appear in the ICIJ Offshore...
Another QMSR Town Hall – What Changes and What Stays the Same in FDA’s Inspection Process
The FDA held its April 1 QMSR town hall to clarify how inspections will change once the Quality Management System Regulation takes effect on February 2, 2026. Inspectors will evaluate every element of a manufacturer’s QMS, emphasizing risk‑management documentation throughout the system. While...
Crackdown on Vapes Falling Short, Report Finds
A Government Accountability Office report finds the Justice Department’s enforcement of illegal e‑cigarette sales has lagged behind a booming market. From 2022 to 2025, DOJ launched only 88 actions, mainly adding online sellers to a blacklist, while roughly 6,000 vape...
BMC Unveils Q1 2026 Operations Report, Flagging DAC8 and ZEC Impacts on Clients
BMC Consulting released its Q1 2026 Operations Quarterly Report, outlining how the EU DAC8 directive, the final year of the ZEC regime and fresh fiscal measures are reshaping client operations. The firm says demand for advisory services has surged as companies...
Harvey Secures $200 Million to Scale AI Agents for Legal Work
Harvey announced a $200 million financing round that lifts its valuation to $11 billion. The capital, co-led by GIC and Sequoia, will accelerate deployment of autonomous AI agents across law firms and corporate legal departments, where more than 100,000 lawyers already rely...
EPA Looks to Evaluate Microplastics Under the Safe Drinking Water Act
On April 6, 2026 the EPA released the draft of its sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, marking the first time microplastics are listed as a priority contaminant group. The draft CCL, which contains 75 chemicals, four...
Regulators Challenged With Keeping Up With the Cadence of Space Development
At the Space Symposium, FCC, NOAA and FAA officials highlighted how regulators are scrambling to keep pace with the rapid commercial space boom. FCC chief Jay Schwarz stressed the need to modernize satellite licensing as launch cadence accelerates. NOAA detailed...
OpenAI Can’t Duck Federal Claims over Murder-Suicide Tied to ChatGPT
A U.S. federal judge denied OpenAI's motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company, its CEO Samuel Altman, and related entities are liable for a murder‑suicide linked to ChatGPT. The case, filed by the estate of Stein‑Erik Soelberg, claims the...
Volato, M2i Global Target Late‑May Close After SEC Declares Form S‑4 Effective
Volato Group and M2i Global said the SEC has made their Form S‑4 registration effective, clearing the way for a shareholder vote on May 7 and a projected late‑May closing. The deal merges Volato’s aviation‑tech platform with M2i’s critical‑minerals supply‑chain business,...
Pa. Supreme Court Ends Mandatory Life‑Without‑Parole for Felony Murder
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life‑without‑parole (LWOP) sentences for second‑degree (felony) murder violate the state constitution, overturning a law that has kept more than a thousand people behind bars for life. The decision gives the state 120 days...
SEC Grants DeFi Front Ends Five‑year Safe Harbor
The SEC says DeFi front ends have a 5 year safe harbor if they prepare *securities* transactions This is where I point out most of these interfaces don't currently trade securities. Which. Tracks when you consider they would have been quite...
BIGHIT Sues to Uncover ARIRANG Leak Source
Last week, BIGHIT MUSIC initiated legal proceedings to discover the owner of an account @/jwngkcck that allegedly leaked 'ARIRANG' songs, lyrics and artwork before its release, according to @Billboard (1/2)
Administration Sacks Judges Who Blocked Palestinian Deportations
Always cheating. Administration fires 2 immigration judges who ruled against deporting Palestinian rights advocates https://t.co/HAicg6aCQP
Colorado House Legalizes Plug‑in Solar for Renters
Colorado House passes legislation to legalize plug-in solar for renters #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/037Gt3scH8
China Expands Extraterritorial Reach with New Regulation
A little ironic, since China has itself is applying its own laws and regulations extraterritorially. But this seems significant to me as another tool in Beijing's arsenal: 中华人民共和国国务院令 第835号: 中华人民共和国反外国不当域外管辖条例.https://t.co/T6FFDqCYKN