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
California Presses On With ‘Lithium Valley’ Amid Lawsuits, Water Dispute
California is moving forward with its “Lithium Valley” initiative in the Imperial Valley, aiming to tap geothermal lithium deposits that could support millions of electric‑vehicle batteries and create up to 12,000 jobs. The effort is now tangled in environmental lawsuits, a water‑supply clash with the Imperial Irrigation District, and a market slump that has slowed private investment.
Court Halts RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Critique—For Now
https://youtu.be/zEoMQZsg2Ck?si=42IeGRta0t_Et_E1 A recent court ruling has limited RFK Jr.'s war on vaccines. At least for the moment.
UK Immigration Judges Deploy Microsoft Copilot Chatbot to Draft Decisions
Hundreds of immigration tribunal judges in England and Wales have begun using a restricted version of Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot to generate case outlines, bundle summaries and draft decision templates. The Ministry of Justice hopes the tool will speed up a...
Blind WVU Students File Lawsuit Over Inaccessible Online Courses as New ADA Rule Takes Effect
Blind graduate students Miranda Lacy and Harold Rogers sued West Virginia University, claiming the school’s online coursework is not compatible with screen‑reader software. The lawsuit arrives as a new Americans with Disabilities Act rule, effective end‑April, mandates public colleges to...
ACA Subsidy Recipients Face Unexpected Tax Repayments as Caps Loom to Vanish
A new KFF analysis reveals that millions of Americans who received Affordable Care Act premium subsidies in 2025 could owe the Treasury as much as $1,625 per person after reconciling income. The report warns that a recent law signed by...
Family Files Lawsuit Over Alleged Abuse of 3‑Year‑Old in Federal Immigration Custody
A Texas father has sued the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Department of Health and Human Services after his 3‑year‑old daughter allegedly suffered sexual abuse in a foster home while detained for five months. The case spotlights rising detention...
Waymo Faces Senate Probe over Opaque Remote‑assistance Use in Autonomous‑vehicle Testing
Senator Ed Markey sent letters to seven autonomous‑vehicle firms, including Waymo, demanding data on how often remote operators intervene. All companies refused to answer, leading the senator to label the silence a “stunning lack of transparency.” The episode could trigger...
Rosen Law Urges PMI Shareholders to Lead $0‑Cost Securities Fraud Suit
Rosen Law Firm is urging investors who purchased Picard Medical (PMI) stock during a Sep‑Oct 2025 window to step forward as lead plaintiffs in a securities‑fraud class action. The firm says defendants overstated 2027 growth prospects while hiding sales‑force weaknesses,...
RBA’s October Ban on Card Surcharges Threatens Cash Shoppers and Strains Aussie Retailers
The Reserve Bank of Australia will prohibit merchants from adding card surcharges starting in October, forcing cafés, restaurants and retailers to absorb transaction fees into base prices. Cash‑preferring shoppers and cash‑centric merchants warn the rule will shift costs onto all...
Paid Sick Leave Laws Protect Employees Who Follow the Rules. This Fox News Producer Didn’t.
A D.C. federal court ruled that a Fox News producer who failed to give timely notice of a sick‑day was not protected under the D.C. Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act. The employee knew he would be absent the night...
RESPA Cases Are Rising as States Fill CFPB Void
State attorneys general and private litigants are intensifying enforcement of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau scales back its oversight. Recent actions include a Maryland title company’s $1 million settlement and at least five...
What Role Should AI Play In Judging?
Federal judges are increasingly turning to generative AI for routine tasks, with a Northwestern study finding over 60% have used tools such as ChatGPT and 22% do so daily or weekly. The technology is being employed to draft timelines, suggest...
Sony Loss Strengthens Sony Standard in Cox ISP Copyright Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned a $1 billion copyright verdict that Sony Music had won against broadband provider Cox Communications. The Court held that contributory liability attaches only when a service is intended or tailored for infringement, reaffirming the 1984...
Research Highlights Freedom of Information Act Risks in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Graduate researcher Melanie Simmons at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security warns that the Freedom of Information Act, originally designed for paper records, now exposes homeland‑security data to AI‑driven aggregation. Her thesis shows that the act’s blind‑requester rule lets...
Hawk Launches Agentic AI Tool to Overhaul Costly AML Investigations
Hawk has launched the AML Investigative Agent, an agentic AI platform that automates the most labor‑intensive steps of anti‑money‑laundering investigations. The solution overlays existing case‑management systems, offering deep AML typology expertise, extensive data coverage, and regulator‑grade explainability. Built with human‑in‑the‑loop...
The 4 Biggest HR Compliance Risks for SMBs — and How to Avoid Them
Small and midsize businesses are accelerating global expansion, but doing so exposes them to heightened HR compliance risks. The four most critical threats identified are worker misclassification, lagging behind rapid regulatory changes, inadequate data‑privacy safeguards, and non‑standardized employment documentation. Missteps...
Beyond the Certificate: What a Trade Mark Gives You and How Its Value Is Calculated
A registered trademark turns a brand into a legally enforceable intangible asset, granting exclusive rights that protect identity and support market positioning. The article outlines how trademarks are valued using relief‑from‑royalty, income‑based, and market‑comparables methods, each translating brand strength into...
2 Judges Facing Possible Sanctions After Misconduct Findings
Two South African judges, Nana Makhubele and Mushtak Parker, have been found guilty of gross misconduct by the Judicial Service Commission, triggering possible removal from office. The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development granted them an extension until 30 April...
The Two Speeds of Law Practice Technology
Law firms are grappling with a paradox: automation boosts billable efficiency, yet unchecked speed invites ethical lapses and AI‑generated errors. Recent court cases involving a DOJ attorney in North Carolina and a Mississippi firm illustrate how fabricated citations and unvetted...
Belarus Parliament Criminalizes LGBTQ+ ‘Propaganda,’ Mirroring Russia
Belarus’s lower house approved a bill criminalizing “propaganda” for LGBTQA+ relationships, gender transition, child‑free lifestyles and even pedophilia, imposing fines, community service or up to 15 days in detention. The draft, first introduced in February 2024, now proceeds to President...
Sloppy Contracts Can Cost You, A Lot
Sloppy contract handling can expose companies to payment delays, disputes, and costly litigation. The article illustrates real‑world failures where finance, delivery, sales, or CEOs were excluded, leading to 60‑day invoice delays, unclear acceptance criteria, and unintended fixed‑price obligations. It then...
2026 PAW: Bridging Continents: The Turkic Region’s Growing Influence in Arbitration
The 10th Paris Arbitration Week highlighted the Turkic region’s rise as a strategic arbitration centre, with events in Azerbaijan showcasing the growing influence of Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Speakers noted strong institutional frameworks such as the Istanbul Arbitration Centre...
Why Do some Killer Motorists Get Short Prison Sentences? UK Road Safety Laws Are Letting Them Off the Hook |...
In 2024 Britain recorded 1,602 road fatalities, yet prosecutions remain rare. Recent court cases in Birmingham and Lincoln illustrate how the Crown Prosecution Service frequently labels lethal conduct as "careless" rather than "dangerous," limiting judges' sentencing powers. Both defendants received...
Is FDA Moving the Goalposts on 483 Responses? What the New Draft Guidance Means for Your Company
The FDA released its first draft guidance outlining how drug, biologic and veterinary manufacturers should respond to Form FDA 483 observations. The document mandates a structured response—including an executive summary, risk assessments, and detailed remediation plans—and requires identification of the...
EPA’s DEF Sensor Rollback a Win for Diesel Farm Equipment
The EPA announced on March 27 that it is removing the mandatory urea‑quality (DEF) sensor requirement for all diesel‑powered farm equipment, allowing manufacturers to rely on NOx sensors instead. The agency estimates the change will save U.S. farmers roughly $4.4 billion annually...
Consumer Protection Group Unveils Student AI Bill of Rights
The National Student Legal Defense Network released a Student AI Bill of Rights, urging colleges to adopt clear standards for AI use. The five‑article framework demands transparency, human oversight, data ownership, bias mitigation, and equitable access to AI benefits. It...
Remula Formally Asked to Deliver VP Duterte's SALNs to House Justice Panel
The House Committee on Justice issued a subpoena to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, ordering him to appear on April 14 and submit certified copies of Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) for multiple...
JPN Reminds that Using Someone Else’s MyKad, Even a Family Member’s, to Refuel with Budi95 Is Prohibited
Malaysia’s National Registration Department (JPN) reiterated that using another person’s MyKad – even a family member’s – to purchase subsidised Budi95 RON 95 petrol is prohibited. The rule, anchored in Regulation 25 of the 1990 National Registration Regulations, makes identity‑card sharing an...
BuCor’s PDLs Now Assured of Legal Assistance From IBP
On April 6, 2026 the Bureau of Corrections signed a memorandum of agreement with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to deliver comprehensive legal assistance to persons deprived of liberty, covering appeals, clemency, habeas corpus and Good Conduct Time Allowance...
How Mediation Can Help Resolve Pro Sports Disputes
Professor Mark Grabowski argues that mediation is underused in U.S. professional sports, despite its success in past NHL and NFL labor disputes. He cites the 2012 NHL‑PA negotiation, where a federal mediator helped bridge a $200 million revenue‑sharing gap, and the...
A World-First Global Law for Building Defects
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is endorsing the International Model Building Act, the first global legislative template aimed at curbing dangerous building defects. Developed by the International Building Quality Centre and backed by experts such as Dame Judith Hackitt,...
The Essential Workplace Rights Guide Every Employee Needs
I’m a workers’ rights lawyer. I wrote the ultimate guide to your rights at work. I wish I had this when I was younger.
Skanska USA Building Announces General Counsel Transition
Skanska USA Building announced that its long‑time general counsel, Brian Best, will retire on April 10, 2026. Effective March 30, 2026, senior vice president Stefani Bonato will assume the general counsel role, overseeing legal, ethics, compliance, and insurance functions. Bonato joins the senior leadership...
How Compliance Priorities Are Shifting Toward Trade, AI Governance, and Budgets
Compliance leaders highlighted a seismic shift toward trade enforcement, with the DOJ leveraging the False Claims Act to target import‑related violations and rewarding self‑disclosure. AI governance is moving from a peripheral concern to a core compliance function, prompting the creation...
Utah Delegation Uses Unprecedented Tactic to Go After National Monument Plan
Utah legislators, led by Sen. Mike Lee, have filed a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the 2025 Resource Management Plan for the 1.9 million‑acre Grand Staircase‑Escalante National Monument. This marks the first time the CRA—a tool traditionally...
Fairness Outweighs Compassion in Public Jobs: SC
The Supreme Court ruled that public‑employment recruitment must prioritize fairness over compassion, overturning earlier rulings that granted a police constable a second chance to take a missed physical test. The bench emphasized that advertised test schedules are final and cannot...
FDA Reversals in Rare Disease Space Highlight Confusion Around External Controls
In 2024 the FDA signaled support for using natural‑history external controls in rare‑disease gene‑therapy trials, but later reversed that stance for uniQure’s Huntington’s therapy, demanding a sham‑surgery Phase 3 study. The agency’s guidance still encourages innovative designs, yet recent reversals for...
Fiduciary Duties: An Overview of the Duty of Disclosure
Faegre Drinker partners Oderah Nwaeze and Angela Lam published an overview of Delaware’s fiduciary duty of disclosure, highlighting how boards must handle management financial projections. The article clarifies that speculative or unreliable forecasts are exempt, but projections used in ordinary...
Regulatory Simplification Around the Globe
The OECD’s "Simplifying for Success" symposium highlighted that 90% of surveyed businesses and 72% of government leaders view regulation as excessively burdensome. Participants cited layered rules and rapid tech change as drivers of complexity. Countries such as Argentina and Italy...
Davis Polk Discusses SEC’s Application of Securities Laws to Crypto
The SEC released a commission‑level interpretive release, jointly endorsed by the CFTC, that outlines when federal securities laws apply to crypto assets. It introduces a five‑category taxonomy—digital commodities, collectibles, tools, stablecoins, and digital securities—and clarifies that non‑security tokens can still...
The Ruling That Could Unravel Social Media | Behind the Numbers
In this episode, Marcus, Ethan, and Emmy discuss recent California and New Mexico jury rulings that held Meta and Google liable for youth mental‑health harms caused by their platforms, awarding millions in damages and marking the first time social‑media apps...
Rwanda Swats Bybit’s P2P Platform Offering Franc-to-Crypto Trading
Rwanda’s central bank publicly warned that crypto payments and peer‑to‑peer trades using the Rwandan franc (FRW) are illegal after Bybit announced FRW support on its P2P platform. The bank emphasized that only the FRW is legal tender and that licensed...
Singapore, Indonesia Supreme Courts Ink Memorandum to Boost Cross-Border Collaboration
Singapore and Indonesia’s Supreme Courts signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 30 to improve communication and cooperation in cross‑border insolvency cases. The MOU establishes designated liaison points and formal communication protocols, building on the ASEAN Model Framework adopted in 2023...
Wasiyyah Offers Free Wills for Prospective Haj Pilgrims
Wasiyyah Shoppe Bhd is extending its free will‑writing service to all Malaysian Hajj pilgrims for the 2026 season, running from April 7 to May 15. The initiative, part of its CSR program, expands beyond booth‑only offerings and anticipates serving about 2,000 pilgrims,...
EPA Considers Rolling Back Clean‑Air Rules for Plastic‑Waste Recycling Plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to remove clean‑air safeguards for advanced‑recycling facilities that use pyrolysis to process plastic waste. The proposal, embedded in a wood‑incineration rule, has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and strong support from the...
Gujarat High Court Bans AI in Judicial Decision‑Making, Allows Limited Administrative Use
The Gujarat High Court unveiled a policy that bars artificial intelligence from any form of judicial decision‑making, order drafting or sentencing, while permitting AI only for limited administrative and research tasks. The move, announced on April 5, 2026, makes Gujarat...
California Bans Government Officials From Using Insider Knowledge To Bet On Prediction Markets
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that immediately bars state officials from using non‑public government information to profit on prediction‑market bets. The move follows allegations that insiders earned roughly $1.2 million on a pre‑strike bet against Iran, nearly $1 million...
Runnymede Demolition Reveals Malaysia's Heritage Law Gap
The Architecture of Preservation: A Comparative Analysis of Malaysian Heritage Law Introduction The destruction of the Runnymede buildings in Penang serves as a grim case study in the vulnerability of irreplaceable built heritage. While public outcry focused on the moral loss, the...
Citizen Scientist Exposes Fraud, Secures $15M Return
Remarkable story of an underemployed scientific sleuth, David Shloto, who spend his free time digging into image duplication in Dana Farber papers. He sued for fraud forcing cancer institution to disgorge about $15 mm in NIH grants. Here's his video. https://t.co/wXblELJCdZ
Simple KYC Rules Can Shift Fraud Burden to Platforms
We may not be able to force social media companies to pay their share for the fraud that they facilitate, but a few simple rules around KYC can help to tilt the scales back in our favour: https://t.co/35VgzwI9OI https://t.co/BNQRr49aHQ