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
Australian Government Not Posturing with SMMA Enforcement Efforts: Wells
Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) law, effective Dec 2025, has entered its first enforcement phase. A March 2026 eSafety compliance report shows 23 legal notices issued, 16 platform meetings, and the removal of roughly 4.7 million under‑age accounts, with an additional 310,000 accounts blocked. While major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube face active investigations for non‑compliance, overall account deletions indicate the rule is taking effect. The government denies that international scrutiny is driving policy, emphasizing domestic safety goals.
Federal Appeals Court Supports Injunction Against ICE in L.A. Press Club Lawsuit
A federal appeals court upheld the preliminary injunction that bars the Department of Homeland Security from using excessive force against journalists, observers, and peaceful protesters during ICE raids in Southern California. The Ninth Circuit concluded the plaintiffs are likely to...
![[Podcast] When Creativity Meets Code: Copyright and Trademark Troubles with AI-Generated Material](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://jdsupra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/profile-images/og.14750_4752.jpg)
[Podcast] When Creativity Meets Code: Copyright and Trademark Troubles with AI-Generated Material
Businesses are rapidly adopting generative AI tools to craft brand names, logos, and product designs, dramatically speeding up creative workflows. This surge raises complex legal questions about who holds copyright and trademark rights when AI contributes to the work. The...
Did Coaching Letter Add up to Discrimination?
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario dismissed a disability discrimination claim worth $2.5 million CAD (≈$1.9 million USD) filed by a wastewater system operator against the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The claim centered on a non‑disciplinary coaching and counselling letter issued after...
Turkey’s Parliament Debates a Bill to Restrict Access to Social Media for Children Under 15
Turkey's parliament has begun debating a draft law that would require social‑media platforms to verify ages, block account creation for users under 15, and provide parental‑control tools. The proposal also obliges online game firms to appoint a local representative and...
Argentina Repeals Pharmaceutical Patent Examination Guidelines
Argentina repealed its 2012 pharmaceutical patent examination guidelines on March 18, 2026, fulfilling commitments under the US‑Argentina Reciprocal Trade and Investment Agreement to harmonize IP standards. The outdated rules had excluded patents on crystalline forms, enantiomers, formulations and other biotech inventions, limiting...
Ex-VOA Employees Challenge Last Year’s Buyout and Retirement Offers
Four former Voice of America employees have petitioned the Merit Systems Protection Board to void the early‑retirement and buyout agreements they signed in 2024 under the Deferred Resignation Program, Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments. Their request...
Free Speech for Quacks
The Supreme Court in *Chiles v. Salazar* struck down Colorado’s ban on conversion‑therapy for minors, ruling 8‑1 that the law constituted unlawful viewpoint discrimination. The majority, led by Justice Gorsuch, treated the therapist’s speech as protected expression rather than medical...
Newrez Faces $4.2M Penalty for Servicing Violations
Washington State regulators have proposed a $4.2 million civil penalty against mortgage servicer Newrez for a series of servicing violations spanning 2021‑2026. The charges allege inaccurate loan onboarding, erroneous escrow handling, false credit‑reporting information, and improper foreclosure practices that harmed dozens...
STB Rules for Norfolk Southern in Dispute with CSX at Port of Virginia
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) unanimously ruled in favor of Norfolk Southern Railway, rejecting CSX Transportation’s request for direct on‑dock service at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) in the Port of Virginia. The decision preserves the historic competitive rail structure...
Lawmakers Push FCC to Block Sports Media Consolidation
In a letter Monday to @BrendanCarrFCC about the cost and inconvenience of TV sports and streaming deals between @Disney’s @ESPN and @NFL and @MLB, @SenWarren and @RepPatRyanNY said, “To promote competition in sports media in support of the public interest,...
How Tolls in the Strait of Hormuz Would Undercut International Law
The United States and Iran are each proposing tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would contravene the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Neither country has ratified UNCLOS, leaving the proposed...
Ontario Court Holds Advisor Liable After False Crypto Promise Costs Client
An Ontario Superior Court ruled that senior financial advisor Michael Santonato is personally liable for a client’s lost cryptocurrency investment. The court awarded Bushra Heland $152,086.41 after finding Santonato fraudulently promised stop‑loss protection that could not be implemented. The judgment...
California Legislature Considers VPPs and Solar-Charged Battery Compensation
California lawmakers advanced two bills aimed at unlocking distributed energy resources. Senate Bill 913 would let solar‑charged batteries, EV chargers and heat pumps receive credit for electricity exported to the grid, enabling virtual power plants to participate in the state’s...
Lack of Universal ‘Digital Nomad’ Definition Hampers Regulatory Approaches
The International Bar Association’s Global Employment Institute released its first Digital Nomad Report, highlighting the absence of a universal definition for digital nomads. This gap complicates immigration, employment‑law, tax and social‑security compliance for multinational firms, especially in short‑term cross‑border remote...
Social Platforms Are Facing Increased Scrutiny. How Long Will Advertisers Stick Around?
Recent jury verdicts ordered Meta to pay $375 million and Google/Meta $6 million for child‑safety and mental‑health harms. Despite these landmark cases, advertisers have kept spending, with Meta posting double‑digit ad‑revenue growth in each quarter after the scandals. Rising CPA costs, AI‑related...
USPTO Issues Updated Guidance on Patent Reexamination Practice
On April 1, 2026 the USPTO released new guidance that creates a “pre‑order” briefing option for patent owners in ex parte reexamination proceedings. Owners can submit a 30‑day, 30‑page brief before the agency decides on a third‑party request, influencing the Substantial New...
FINRA Hits J.P. Morgan, Ameriprise with Penalties Linked to Supervision of Sales of Products
FINRA imposed a $3.25 million fine on J.P. Morgan Securities for failing to adequately supervise a broker who pushed leveraged, high‑yield positions from 2016 to 2020, a strategy that hurt clients during the March 2020 market shock. The regulator also levied a $1.4 million...
Nudity Is Not Obscenity
In February 2026 the Washington Supreme Court dismissed a recall petition against Stevenson councilmember Lucy Lauser, ruling her topless protest on International Transgender Day of Visibility was constitutionally protected expressive conduct. The court clarified that Washington’s indecent exposure law targets...
Study Finds Many Major UK Websites May Be Setting Cookies Before User Consent
A Birmingham‑based ALT Agency audit of 200 high‑traffic UK consumer websites revealed that 60% set analytics or marketing cookies before a user interacts with a consent banner. The study recorded 1,731 cookies placed pre‑consent, including 670 classified as analytics or...
Why a 'No-Risk' Category Would Weaken EU's Landmark Anti-Deforestation Law (EUDR)
The European Commission will release a simplification review of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) ahead of its December 2026 start. The review faces pressure to add a "no‑risk" category that would exempt companies sourcing from countries with stable forest cover...
The Lion King Chant Roars Into Federal Court
South African composer Lebo M has filed a federal lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi, alleging the comedian’s viral joke mis‑translating the iconic Lion King chant damaged his reputation and commercial prospects. The complaint, filed in the Central District of California, seeks more...
Washington's New Income Tax and Pass-Through Business Income: S-Corps, LLCs, and Partnerships
Washington enacted a 9.9% state income tax (ESSB 6346) that applies to individuals, including income passed through from S‑corporations, LLCs, and partnerships. The law permits pass‑through entities to elect to pay the tax at the entity level, converting the state...
Court Victory for American Libraries, the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Trump administration has withdrawn its appeal in Rhode Island v. Trump, leaving Judge John J. McConnell’s permanent injunction intact and restoring full grant funding to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The decision reverses a year‑long effort...
Stablecoin Issuers Get Closer to U.S. Federal Rules with FDIC's New Proposal
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) has formally proposed its first stablecoin‑issuer rule under the GENIUS Act, aligning closely with the OCC’s earlier framework. The proposal, which includes 144 regulatory questions, opens a 60‑day public comment period and sets capital,...
Biglaw Lawyer Battles 12‑partner Team over $3M Park
POV: You're a former biglaw attorney representing the seller of a $3 million trampoline park opposite of KKR and a Sidley Austin team of 12 lawyers who don't sleep
First Nation Goes to Court to Kill Alberta Independence Petition
The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has filed for an emergency injunction in Edmonton’s Court of King’s Bench to block a citizen‑initiated petition calling for an Alberta independence referendum. The petition, which has amassed more than 178,000 signatures, meets the threshold...
Judge Again Tells Trump Admin To Recognize VA Health Workers’ Union
A federal judge has again ordered the Trump administration to recognize the collective bargaining agreement for health‑care workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The ruling insists the government comply “in both form and substance,” effectively overturning prior attempts to...
Washington's New Income Tax: The Marriage Penalty Explained
Washington’s new 9.9% state income tax provides a $1 million standard deduction per household, not per individual. Consequently, married or domestic‑partner couples share a single deduction, creating a marriage penalty that can reach $99,000 annually for comparable earners. The penalty also...
Clients Look for Calm Lawyers.
Lawyers who project calm and relieve client stress are more likely to secure lasting relationships than those who rely on advertising. The article argues that clients base their choice on how they feel during interactions, seeking hope and reassurance. By...
Asset Protection Depends on Vulnerability, Not Net Worth
Asset protection isn’t about how much money you have. It’s about how easily someone can take it. There are people with $200K who should be worried. And people with $5M who are basically invisible. The trigger is simple: 👉 Can you be sued easily? 👉...
Washington's New Income Tax and Remote Workers: Who Owes What?
Washington will launch a 9.9% personal income tax on Jan. 1, 2028, using a dual‑track residency test that hinges on domicile and physical presence. Residents—defined by domicile or a 183‑day presence test—must allocate all income to the state, subject to a...
McCarthy Tétrault Adds Partner April Kosten to Labour and Employment Group
McCarthy Tétrault announced that April Kosten has joined its national labour and employment practice as a Calgary‑based partner. Kosten, admitted to the Alberta bar in 2009, brings extensive experience advising employers on human‑rights, privacy, workplace investigations and especially compliant alcohol and...
BC Court of Appeal Denies Appeal of Motorcyclist Injured in Vehicular Collision
The British Columbia Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a motorcyclist who claimed a pick‑up truck’s negligence caused his injuries. The appellate court affirmed the trial judge’s finding that the truck’s drift was neither the factual nor legal cause...
How Poor Recruitment Practices Can Lead to Legal Risks for Companies
A rideshare driver’s DUI can expose the platform to negligent hiring or retention claims if the company’s screening and monitoring were inadequate. Courts examine whether the firm ignored criminal or driving‑record red flags, failed to act on passenger complaints, or...
OpenAI Warns Elon Musk Is Escalating Attacks as Their Trial Nears
OpenAI has sent a letter to California and Delaware attorneys general accusing Elon Musk of anti‑competitive behavior and coordinated attacks, allegedly involving Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. The complaint references a New Yorker report claiming Musk hired investigators to surveil OpenAI CEO...
Proposed Rule Seeks to Clarify Fiduciary Duties in Investment Plan Decisions Subject to ERISA, but Risks Remain
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued proposed regulations that clarify ERISA fiduciary duties when selecting alternative‑asset options for participant‑directed 401(k) and 403(b) plans. The rule creates a safe‑harbor framework but retains the requirement that fiduciaries exercise prudence and continuously...
Deere Agrees to Pay $99M to Settle 'Right to Repair' Lawsuit
John Deere agreed to a $99 million settlement to resolve a class‑action lawsuit accusing the company of monopolizing farm‑equipment repairs. The deal, still pending court approval, covers customers who paid for large‑scale repairs between January 2018 and the settlement date and includes...
FCA 101: Materiality
The False Claims Act requires a misrepresentation to be material—meaning it must actually influence the government’s payment decision, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Universal Health Services v. Escobar. Recent executive orders (EO 14173 and EO 14398) attempt to make compliance...
Start a Family Trust for Just $10—Get Legal Docs Right
Attorney Henderson here: What do you need to start your Family Trust Fund?! Courts have recognized that you can start a trust fund with as little as $10, but You need the correct documentation to start. Largely a trust is private...
Disclaimers Shield Google Legally but Don’t Improve Answer Quality
Do these disclaimers help Google avoid legal liability or something? They’re all over AIO now (and IMO they don’t do much to take away from otherwise bad quality answers 😅😅)
Jennifer Schwartz and Dylan Carp Spotlighted for Eleventh Circuit Win Upholding $6M Judgment
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $6 million judgment in the Hayes v. Jobot case, rejecting the defendant’s request for a stay. Attorneys Jennifer Schwartz and Dylan Carp of Jackson Lewis crafted the successful opposition brief that persuaded the court. The ruling affirms...
Facebook Case Dismissed After Judge Switch, Witness Blocked
Housekeeping. May 6 evidentiary hearing which should be interesting. when facebook suddenly got this case dismissed at a very sensitive moment, it had been transferred to a new judge. weirdly this witness was blocked, too, who analyzed their privacy policy...
Congress Targets Investor Buying Spree in SF Homes
Moves afoot in #Congress to tie hands of investors trying to buy into the SFHomes market. 'People live in homes, not corps.' #realestate #CRE #interestrates #mortgage #Trump #House #USsenate #SenWarren #SenScott https://t.co/8vITkoRGl1
Supreme Court’s Immigration Docket Keeps Focus on Birthright Citizenship and Executive Power
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide a case challenging the federal government’s ability to narrow birthright citizenship through executive action. The dispute, centered on the scope of presidential authority, also raises questions about the courts’ power to issue...
Apple Verdict May Inform Jury Instruction in Patent Suits
A Texas jury cleared Apple of infringing Optis Wireless’s standard‑essential 4G patents, but the case reshaped how courts must instruct juries on § 101 eligibility. The Federal Circuit’s 2025 opinion required Step 2 instructions to explicitly identify the abstract idea and exclude...
Feds Sue Three States over Prediction Markets Regulations
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed lawsuits against Arizona, Connecticut and Illinois, challenging each state’s attempts to restrict prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket. The CFTC asserts it is the sole regulator of these platforms under the Commodity Exchange...
FCC Suspends Seven for 'Schemes to Defraud' E-Rate Program
The Federal Communications Commission announced the suspension of seven individuals for fraudulent activities in the E‑Rate program, a component of the Universal Service Fund that subsidizes broadband for schools and libraries. The defendants were involved in schemes ranging from overbilling...
SEC's Future Uncertain After Hester Peirce Departs
🎙️ What the SEC will be like after @HesterPeirce leaves later this year 😢 https://t.co/p1dbQQY3nS
Hester Peirce Asked About Her Proudest SEC Legacy
"What do you think you'll walk away from the SEC proudest of?" -- @TuongvyLe12's question to @HesterPeirce 🎙️ https://t.co/y2gzMC4Sii