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
25-429 - Moyer V. Murray Et Al
The district court issued a series of orders between July 2025 and April 2026 that repeatedly denied Plaintiff’s motions, including a default‑judgment request, objections to a sua‑sponte dismissal, and multiple relief‑under‑Rule 60 filings. The court dismissed the Plaintiff’s first amended complaint and gave a narrow 14‑day window to seek leave for a second amendment, otherwise imposing dismissal. Several filings containing minors’ identities were ordered sealed under Rule 5.2(a). The most recent orders reaffirmed denial of Rule 60 relief and mandated sealing of the amended motion, with a deadline for a redacted resubmission.
Nexstar's $150M Demand Exposed Amid Tegna Blockade
Revealed in hearing -- Nexstar seeking $150 million from DirecTV and states seeking to halt the Tegna deal. That amount had been under seal, Nexstar lawyer says, and now it's out there. Oops.
Brendan Carr Wins for Americans, Modernizes Tech Regulation
News🚨@Article3Project head Mike Davis @mrddmia says @BrendanCarrFCC "is racking up wins for the American people, whether the liberal media cartel acknowledges them or not. Mr. Carr enforces the law, drags outdated regulations into the modern era and takes the fight...
15-641 - Young V. Rios Et Al
The Young v. Rios case, filed in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, was transferred to the Western District in June 2015 and has since been marked by a series of motions, reports, and orders spanning over a decade. Magistrate Judge Charles...
Nexstar’s $150M Bond Claim Revealed During Hearing
Nexstar says company had asked for $150 million bond from plaintiffs in antitrust challenge but lawyer for station group says the figure was filed under seal but disclosed during this hearing
FinCEN Advisory Mandates Expansion of SAR Reporting in Healthcare Context
FinCEN issued a March 30, 2026 Healthcare Fraud Advisory (FIN‑2026‑A001) that adds 24 new, healthcare‑specific red flags for banks to monitor. The guidance targets three core fraud schemes: shell companies posing as providers, false or inflated Medicare/Medicaid claims, and laundering of illicit...
2026 Amendments Bring Needed Clarity to Texas’s Summary Judgment Rule
The Texas Legislature amended Rule 166a, effective for motions filed on or after March 1, 2026, to impose fixed response and reply deadlines—21 days for a non‑movant’s answer and 7 days for the movant’s reply. The amendment also sets minimum hearing timelines (at least 35 days...
25-731 - Sells V. Pantoja Et Al
On April 6, 2026 Magistrate Judge Suzanne Mitchell issued a Report and Recommendation in case 25‑731 Sells v. Pantoja. The report advises the district court to dismiss the plaintiff’s amended complaint in full and to deny the motion seeking court‑appointed counsel. The recommendation...
2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn't Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hold broadband providers liable for customer piracy in two recent cases, first overturning a billion‑dollar judgment against Cox Communications and then remanding a Sony‑Music suit against Grande Communications. Both decisions rely on the Court’s...
“Only Trump Knows Why He Replaced Bondi as Attorney General, New Leader of Justice Department Says”
President Donald Trump dismissed former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi and installed Todd Blanche as acting attorney general. Blanche told reporters that only Trump knows the specific reason for Bondi's removal and that he would accept a permanent appointment if...
Court Orders FDA To Provide Update On Mifepristone Review Before Midterms
A Louisiana district judge ordered the FDA to issue an update on its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) review for the abortion medication mifepristone within six months. The mandate arrives as the Trump administration faces pressure to clarify its...
26-179 - Bermudez Et Al V. Figueroa
On April 6, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued an order in Bermudez et al v. Figueroa. The court accepted the full Report & Recommendation (Doc. 10) and dismissed the petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241...
Judge: Unqualified Agency Advocates “Risk Undermining Legal System”
A Cardiff deputy district judge ruled that an unqualified advocate, Mr Razza, lacked the supervision required under the Legal Services Act 2007 and therefore had no right of audience. The decision builds on a prior ruling that "solicitor's agents" cannot appear...
Conveyancing Named ‘Slowest Part of Homebuying Process’
A Lyons Bowe survey of 1,000 UK homebuyers finds conveyancing is the slowest part of the purchase journey, with 65% of respondents naming it the biggest delay. More than 70% of deals take over 12 weeks from offer acceptance to completion,...
“Deplorable” Vaginal Mesh Solicitor Put Money Before Clients
Solicitor Darren Hanison, the sole principal of Fortitude Law, was struck off after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found him guilty of 17 serious misconduct allegations, including dishonest handling of settlements and falsifying insurance documents. The SRA had received complaints from...
Nexstar Argues Station Growth Doesn't Boost Distributor Leverage
Nexstar tells the judge it doesn't believe an increase in the number of stations it owns leads to an increase in leverage in negotiating with pay-TV distributors.
Texas Business Court Reinforces Standing Rules for LLC Derivative Lawsuits
The Texas Business Court ruled that a former LLC member cannot bring a derivative lawsuit once their membership interest has terminated. In Michael D. Crain v. William Northern, the court dismissed Crain's derivative claims because he filed them after his...
Solicitor Develops Free Software to Organise Court Bundles
City solicitor Tris Sherliker launched BunTool, a free JavaScript‑based platform that assembles PDF court bundles locally. The tool, released in March, claims to shave up to an hour from each bundle for lawyers and days for litigants in person. Within...
As Legal Aid Groups Face Budget Cuts, San Francisco Awards 1 Group Millions
San Francisco awarded a $4.7 million grant to Open Door Legal without a competitive bidding process, even as the city slashes civil legal‑aid budgets amid a $643 million deficit. The grant includes an anticipated $3 million private‑sector match and is intended to expand...
Regulators Rework AML Rules to Prioritize Risk-Based Evaluations
The Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and three banking regulators unveiled a joint proposal to overhaul anti‑money‑laundering (AML) and counter‑terrorist financing rules under the Bank Secrecy Act. The new framework shifts focus from volume‑based paperwork to risk‑based assessments, directing resources...
California Bill Would Expand Background Check Restrictions for Employers
California Assembly Bill 2095 seeks to tighten the state’s Fair Chance Act by prohibiting any conviction‑related questions on job applications and requiring employers to disclose specific job duties before conducting background checks. The bill mandates written, good‑faith individualized assessments and...
Will the D.C. Appellate Court Again Halt Policy to Remove Illegal Truck Drivers Off the Roads?
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s final rule, enacted March 16, would revoke roughly 200,000 non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) nationwide, tightening eligibility to three specific visa categories and requiring English proficiency. Several states, including Indiana and Idaho, have already nullified...
Elon Musk Wants Any Damages From His OpenAI Lawsuit Given to the AI Company's Nonprofit Arm
Elon Musk has amended his lawsuit against OpenAI to ensure any damages are awarded to the company’s nonprofit arm rather than to him personally. He continues to pursue roughly $150 billion in damages, alleging that OpenAI’s shift to a for‑profit model...
Texas Officials Investigating Hundreds of Complaints Against Camp Mystic Amid License Renewal Bid
Texas health regulators and the Texas Rangers are probing hundreds of complaints about Camp Mystic as the state reviews its license renewal following the July 4, 2024 flood that killed 27 girls and two counselors. The Department of State Health Services...
China’s National Data Administration Issues Draft Guidelines for Data Property Registration (Trial) for Public Comment
On April 3 2026 China’s National Data Administration released draft guidelines for data property registration, inviting public comment until April 19. The proposal creates a unified national system where data ownership certificates can be recorded as intangible assets on corporate balance sheets or...
Our FINRA Portal Enables 7% Success Fees for Reg CF
We own and operate a FINRA Funding Portal, which can legally charge success fees in Reg Cf raises (i.e. 7% of a $5m raise). This Funding Portal is a key element in helping us bring interactive investing shows mainstream.
Trump Administration Releases Guidance on Clean Energy Tax Credit Restrictions
The Treasury and IRS issued Notice 2026‑15 to clarify how clean‑energy tax credits under sections 45Y, 48E and 45X are limited for projects tied to Prohibited Foreign Entities (PFEs) under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. The guidance defines "effective...
TPB Issues Rare Warning About Deregistered Tax Agent
The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has issued an uncommon public warning about former tax agent Parampreet Singh Rajput, whose nine tax‑agent registrations were cancelled. Rajput, sole director of P&G Accounting Solutions and seven other firms, was deemed unfit after a...
US Senators Investigate $370 Million IRS Payout to Cheniere Energy
Seven Democratic senators have opened a Senate inquiry into a $370 million alternative‑fuel tax credit paid by the IRS to Cheniere Energy. The credit, originally designed for motor vehicles and small motorboats, was applied to LNG‑fuelled export tankers that are typically...
Santa Clara County DA’s Office Clears Officer in Fatal Shooting
The Santa Clara County District Attorney cleared Officer Robert Allsup of criminal liability after he shot and killed 32‑year‑old Nizamuddin Mohammed, who was stabbing his roommate Eric Thompson with a kitchen knife on Sept. 3, 2025. The DA’s report concluded...
April 7 Legal News Snapshot: Why Today’s Verified Developments Matter for Litigators and Compliance Teams
The April 7 legal news snapshot highlights that verified, official statements from agencies and courts now drive the most consequential actions for litigators and in‑house counsel. Early confirmations shape litigation narratives, dictate procedural posture, and trigger cross‑agency exposure before a full...
Mercor Hit with 5 Contractor Lawsuits in a Week over Data Breach
Mercor, a $10 billion AI‑training startup, faced five contractor lawsuits in a week after a breach tied to the open‑source LiteLLM project exposed personal data. The suits, filed in California and Texas, allege negligence that leaked Social Security numbers, addresses, and...
Our Amicus Brief in the Section 122 Tariff Case
The Cato Institute and Reason author filed an amicus brief supporting the Liberty Justice Center’s challenge to President Trump’s Section 122 tariffs, which impose a 10‑15% duty on most imports. The brief argues the tariffs violate the Trade Act’s 150‑day...
Outside Counsel Selection Platform Priori Adds Agentic AI Features to RFP Offering
Priori, the SaaS platform that streamlines outside‑counsel selection, has rolled out agentic AI capabilities to its request‑for‑proposal (RFP) suite. The new features automatically draft RFPs, score incoming proposals, and recommend the best‑fit law firms based on predefined criteria. Priori says...
Aiden Buzzetti: The FCC Should Make Sure EchoStar Creditors Are Paid Back Billions Owed
The FCC faces a pivotal decision as EchoStar, owner of DISH Wireless, seeks to sell its 5G spectrum for roughly $50 billion while allegedly refusing to honor $7‑10 billion in debts to tower owners, fiber providers, and contractors. The dispute stems from...
Poor Unfortunate SLAs: Why Your Terms Shouldn’t Require a Soul Transfer
The article uses Disney’s *The Little Mermaid* to illustrate how poorly drafted service level agreements can trap businesses in impossible performance obligations and expose them to data‑security risks. It warns against specific‑performance milestones that let the provider control outcomes, stresses...
How to “Avoid” The Pattern Day Trader Rule (PDT) in 2026
The article explains how traders can sidestep the FINRA Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule by moving from stocks to futures, where no $25,000 equity minimum exists. It highlights that micro futures can be opened with as little as $500 and...
Huge Settlement Funds Attract Plaintiff Lawyers Instantly
"Any time you see a pot of money that big, plaintiffs’ lawyers get very interested" https://t.co/toQJwBTppn
Making Complexity Clear: Contract Design for Multilingual, Multi-Jurisdiction Deals
Large APAC deals now routinely cross several borders, languages and legal systems, turning contracts into dense, hard‑to‑interpret documents. The article argues that intentional contract design—plain language, visual aids, bilingual layouts, and layered structures—can dramatically reduce misinterpretation. Digital platforms and AI‑driven...
Court Weighs Standing, Injunctive Relief in Nexstar Case
Harm, standing, injunctive relief yada yada at Nexstar-Tegna v DirecTV & several states including CA.
US Supreme Court Vacates Bannon Contempt Ruling, Remands for DOJ Dismissal
The U.S. Supreme Court vacated the appellate ruling that upheld Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress conviction and sent the matter back to the D.C. Circuit to consider the Department of Justice’s pending motion to dismiss. The Court granted Bannon’s certiorari...
House Democrats Call on Federal Regulator to Crack Down on Offshore Prediction Market War Bets
House Democrats sent a letter to CFTC Chair Michael Selig urging the agency to crack down on offshore prediction‑market bets tied to war and other government actions, citing alleged insider trading on contracts about Venezuela and Iran. They argue the...
Musk Seeks Ouster of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as Trial Looms
Elon Musk has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to remove OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman from their leadership roles. The suit aims to reverse OpenAI’s recent conversion from a nonprofit to a capped‑profit entity and restore its...
Democrats Question CFTC Chair on Insider Trading in Prediction Markets
Seven Democratic members of the U.S. House have written to CFTC Chair Michael Selig demanding information on the agency’s handling of insider trading in prediction‑market event contracts, especially those tied to U.S. military actions in Iran and Venezuela. The lawmakers...
Judge's Injunction Threatens Nexstar‑Tegna Merger Completion
⚡️ The Big Chill: How Judge Nunley’s Injunction Could Ice Broadcast M&A ⚡️ $NXST Given the harshness of Nunley’s March 28th Temporary Restraining Order, we believe the most likely outcome will be a preliminary injunction barring Nexstar and Tegna from...
Seattle Officers File Lawsuit Against PD Leaders over Alleged Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Seattle police officers have filed a class‑action lawsuit alleging that inadequate ventilation in the West Precinct’s underground garage and adjoining workspaces exposed them to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and other exhaust fumes. The complaint says the department knew of...
London International Disputes Week 2026 Announces Keynote Speakers for International Arbitration Day
London International Disputes Week announced David Neuberger, Toby Landau and Karyl Nairn as keynote speakers for International Arbitration Day on June 1, 2026. The trio will discuss AI’s impact, geopolitical shifts in investment treaty arbitration, cross‑border enforcement, sector‑specific expertise and...
AP Threatens Legal Action as Lee Seeks Contract Exit
Scoop: AP threatens Lee Enterprises over potential contract breach — Lee said last month it wants to terminate its contract w AP. Has suggested it's because of its focus on local coverage — AP says its legally bound to their deal, which...
Interviewee Nets $495K Settlement After Receiving Email Stating He Was ‘Too Old’ for the Role
HCL America, a Santa Clara‑based tech consulting firm, agreed to pay $495,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit alleging age and national‑origin discrimination. The case stemmed from an email in which a sales director labeled a candidate “too old” and urged...
Employers Paid $528M in Pre-Litigation EEOC Settlements Last Year
Employers paid the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission $528 million in pre‑litigation mediation, conciliation and settlements during fiscal 2025, the highest amount ever recorded. The agency reported total payouts of $660 million to 17,680 workers, including a 24% rise in conciliation awards...