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
Negotiating AI Provisions in Commercial and Technology Contracts: Where the Market Is Heading
Two years ago AI clauses were an afterthought, but today’s enterprise deployments demand contracts that reflect the technology’s autonomy. The traditional SaaS model—where vendors host the model and buyers merely access it—assumed human oversight at every decision point. With agentic AI now executing tasks, organizations are re‑evaluating liability, service levels, and governance, prompting a market‑wide shift toward more granular, outcome‑based agreements. The new norm emphasizes detailed service definitions, performance warranties, IP ownership, regulatory compliance, and transition terms.
Carney's Green Strategy Shows Promise, Yet Oil Risks Remain
Lawyer Michael Bissonnette, @WCELaw, says Mark Carney's new approach to environmental protection has potential, but also issues around oil and gas development. #cdnpoli #ableg https://youtu.be/zNb7Y3CZK70
The Precedent: Federal Circuit Corrects PTAB's Grammar-Based Claim Construction in Netflix, Inc. V. DivX, LLC
The Federal Circuit reversed the PTAB’s claim construction in Netflix, Inc. v. DivX, LLC, holding that the phrase “within the requested portions of the selected stream of protected video” modifies the encrypted portions of video frames rather than the encryption...
In the Loop: For Whom the Whistle Blows
FinCEN has launched a new whistleblower portal that accepts tips on financial misconduct while it finalizes a reward structure for informants. The agency’s move signals a broader push to enlist retail investors in uncovering illicit activity within private funds. At...
U.S. Judge Upholds Block on Subpoenas to Fed's Powell, Teeing up Likely Appeal
A federal judge reaffirmed his March ruling blocking subpoenas issued in a criminal probe of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, finding they were intended to pressure him into complying with President Trump’s demand for lower interest rates or resignation. The...
States Seek $10.35M From Kroger, Albertsons for Merger Costs
Eight states and the District of Columbia have sued Kroger and Albertsons, demanding roughly $10.35 million to reimburse attorney fees and litigation expenses incurred during the antitrust review of their proposed $24.6 billion merger. The merger, which would have created the largest...
DLA Piper Headed To Trial Over Firing Of Mom-To-Be
DLA Piper failed to secure summary judgment and will face a federal jury trial in Manhattan over allegations it fired associate Anisha Mehta for taking maternity leave. Judge Analisa Torres found the firm’s performance‑based justification conflicted with evidence, siding with...
Inside the Government Website Accessibility Lobbying Push
The Justice Department issued an interim final rule that instantly requires federal, state and local government websites to meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards under Title II of the ADA, with an April 24 deadline. The rule bypassed the usual pre‑publication comment period,...
Hospital Sues Cardiology Practice for Alleged Breach of Contract, Ending Years-Long Partnership
Boone Health, a 392‑bed hospital in Columbia, Missouri, has sued its longtime cardiology partner, Missouri Heart Center, alleging breach of a non‑compete clause and refusal to release patient data. The cardiology group intends to exit the partnership in May and...
State Dealer Laws Add up to $5K to a New Vehicle’s Price, Think Tank Finds
A new issue brief from the International Center for Law & Economics estimates that state dealer‑franchise laws add roughly $3,934 to $4,992 to the price of a new car. The analysis, built on an updated Goldman Sachs framework, attributes the...
Florida-Led Coalition Backs Louisiana Request To Enforce Parental Consent Law
A Florida‑led coalition of 30 states and the District of Columbia has filed a friend‑of‑the‑court brief supporting Louisiana’s request to enforce its Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act, which mandates age verification and parental consent for users under...
UMG and Believe Settle Lawsuit that Alleged ‘Industrial-Scale’ Copyright Infringement of Universal’s Music
Universal Music Group and digital distributor Believe, along with its TuneCore platform, have settled a copyright‑infringement lawsuit by filing a dismissal with prejudice in New York federal court. The case, filed in November 2024, alleged that Believe operated an "industrial‑scale"...
Thousands of California Immigrant Drivers Face Delays After DMV License Revocations
The California DMV revoked about 13,000 commercial driver’s licenses on March 6 after discovering a clerical error that mismatched license expiration dates with work authorizations. A state judge has taken direct oversight, ordering the agency to reissue corrected licenses while it...
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Update to [Guest Post]: The SEC Wants to Let Companies Report Twice a Year
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is moving toward a rule that would let public companies opt for semi‑annual instead of quarterly filings, with a formal proposal expected by April 2026. The proposal has garnered backing from Nasdaq and the...
Rosen Partners Head Sues Upper East Side Condo Board over Oil Spill
Jack Rosen, head of Rosen Partners, sued the neighboring condo board at 30 East 85th Street for $40 million, alleging an oil spill from a fuel delivery on Jan. 13, 2025 contaminated his Upper East Side townhouse. The spill allegedly stemmed from a...
FDA Is Requiring Opioid Pain Medicine Manufacturers to Update Prescribing Information Regarding Long-Term Use
The FDA has mandated that manufacturers of extended‑release/long‑acting opioid analgesics update their prescribing information to reflect new post‑marketing study results. Two large PMR studies (3033‑1 prospective cohort and 3033‑2 retrospective cohort) found that roughly 22% of long‑term users develop opioid...
NJ Investor Mordechai Weiss Charged in $13.3M Mortgage Fraud Probe Over East Orange Complex
Mordechai Weiss, a New York‑based real‑estate investor, was indicted on conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly securing a $13.3 million loan on a 44‑unit East Orange building worth far less. The case deepens a federal crackdown on commercial mortgage fraud...
K.C. Pharmaceuticals Recalls 3.1 Million Eye‑Drop Bottles Over Sterility Concerns
K.C. Pharmaceuticals announced a voluntary recall of over 3.1 million bottles of over‑the‑counter eye drops sold across the United States. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall on March 31, 2026, citing a lack of assurance of sterility. The recall...
CFTC Warns of Insider‑Trading Crackdown on Prediction Markets
David Miller, director of enforcement at the CFTC, told a New York event that regulators will intensify scrutiny of prediction markets and pursue insider‑trading cases, including criminal charges where appropriate. The warning follows rapid growth of platforms that let users...
Congress Pushes MATCH Act to Block AI Chip Equipment Sales to China, Tightening Export Controls
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the MATCH Act in the House, expanding bans on advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China. The bill follows a surge in Chinese imports of such tools—from $10.7 billion in 2016 to $51.1 billion last year—raising national‑security...
Court Denies Chandler Morris' Bid for Seventh College Season, Upholding NCAA Rules
Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris was denied a preliminary injunction that would have granted him a seventh season of eligibility. The Charlottesville circuit court ruling adds to a growing tally of NCAA wins in eligibility disputes, with 33 of 71 lawsuits...
Retiring Partners Should Relinquish Prized Offices
The piece argues that retiring partners should vacate their large, often underused offices to free premium space for emerging lawyers. It illustrates this with a senior partner who was moved to a smaller office, grew resentful, and eventually left the...
The Social Media Reckoning Has Begun — Ft. Jonathan Haidt
In this episode, host and guest Jonathan Haidt discuss the legal reckoning facing social media giants after recent jury verdicts in New Mexico and Los Angeles found the companies knowingly harmed children. They trace the problem to 1990s legislation—Section 230...
US Regulators Aim Sights on Private Debt Risk as Insurance Interest Grows
U.S. regulators are turning their attention to the growing risk profile of private debt as insurance companies pour more capital into the asset class. The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will begin a series...
Los Angeles Jury Holds Meta and Google Liable in $6 Million Design‑Liability Verdict
A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google responsible for a young woman's addiction to Instagram and YouTube, awarding $6 million in damages and apportioning 70% of liability to Meta and 30% to Google. The verdict, the first of its kind...
Why Clinicians Fail at Writing Expert Reports
Clinicians entering expert‑witness work often see their reports ignored because they write like medical notes, focusing on conclusions rather than the reasoning lawyers demand. Legal documents require the conclusion up front, followed by a logical chain of evidence that can...
Data Center Ban on the Ohio Ballot? Petitioners Get Approval to Start Gathering Signatures
Ohio Ballot Board certified a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit construction of new data centers exceeding a 25‑megawatt peak load, effectively blocking most modern facilities. The amendment now moves to a signature‑gathering phase, requiring more than 413,000 valid signatures...
China Drafts Rules to Label Digital Humans, Ban AI‑Addictive Kids Services
China’s Cyberspace Administration released draft regulations that require clear labeling of digital avatars, prohibit AI‑driven intimate services for anyone under 18, and set new safeguards against misuse of personal data. The draft, open for comment until May 6, signals a tightening...
Amazon Responds to SpaceX’s FCC Complaint About Its Last Leo Satellite Launch
Amazon responded to SpaceX’s FCC complaint that its latest LEO launch placed 32 satellites 50 km above the licensed altitude, forcing SpaceX to maneuver 30 Starlink satellites. Amazon argues the orbit complies with its license and blames SpaceX’s recent lowering of...
Participation Notifications by Citigroup Inc.
Citigroup Inc. filed Belgian transparency notifications indicating it briefly held a 3% voting stake in Solvay S.A. on March 26, 2026, combining 0.29% direct voting rights with 2.71% equivalent financial instruments. By March 27, the bank reduced its position to...
Scientists Urge EPA Not to Weaken Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards
Scientists, clinicians, and community groups urged the EPA to keep its 2024 ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards for medical device sterilizers. The agency’s March proposal would lift restrictions, allowing an additional 7.8 tons of EtO per year and eliminating permanent enclosures...
Assignment and Subletting Clauses in Commercial Leases
Assignment and subletting clauses are often overlooked during lease negotiations, yet they dictate how a tenant can transfer or share lease rights. An assignment hands the entire lease to a new tenant, releasing the original party, while a sublease keeps...
NWMLS Isn’t Just Playing Defense Anymore
The Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) has filed aggressive counterclaims against Compass in federal court, alleging that the broker’s 3‑Phase Marketing Program violates Washington’s Consumer Protection Act. The claims assert that Compass’s pocket‑listing tactics deliberately hide price and days‑on‑market data,...
Woman Who Exposed Denver Cop's Address over Livestream Convicted Under Colo. Anti-Doxing Law
A Denver jury convicted 53‑year‑old activist Regan Benson for doxing a police commander by reading his home address on a livestream and suggesting a “pig roast” at his residence. The conviction marks the first application of Colorado’s newly enacted anti‑doxing...
FTC Urges Tennessee to Preserve Ballad Health’s COPA
The Federal Trade Commission has written to Tennessee lawmakers urging them to keep Ballad Health’s Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) in place, warning that its expiration would leave the state’s dominant hospital system without oversight. The Tennessee legislature is debating...
Lobbying Masquerades as Ineffective Self‑Regulation, Infuriates All
One of the most infuriating pieces of lobbying dressed up as inane ineffectual ‘self-regulation’ ….
Judge Upholds Ruling, Opens Appeal Over Fed Subpoenas
The judge who ruled that Pirro's subpoenas of the Fed were improper denied the government's motion to reconsider his ruling, paving the path for an appeal that could continue the brinksmanship with Tillis over the Warsh confirmation https://t.co/dp3pXhJdjy
FTC Seeks Public Input on Junk Fee Rule for Rental Housing
The Federal Trade Commission has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to curb undisclosed "junk fees" in rental housing, seeking public comment by April 13. The agency’s focus follows high‑profile settlements—$48 million with Invitation Homes and $23 million with Greystar—highlighting deceptive rent...
Iranian AI LEGO Cartoons Mock War, Thwarted by LEGO Lawsuits
Now I want to read an interview with the LEGO legal team fruitlessly sending cease and desist letters to the IRGC.
Clear Argument Calls Out Opportunistic Court
+1 super clear, well argued. Please read and share with those stretching the court decision into opportunistic advocacy.
Rome Court Rules Netflix Price Hikes Illegal, Opening Door to €500 Refunds
An Italian court ruled that Netflix’s subscription price increases from 2017 to 2024 were unlawful, opening the door for refunds of up to €500 (about $545) for premium plan holders and €250 (about $273) for standard users. The judgment also...
Bondi's Legacy Spurs Ten Strong AG Contenders
10 contenders to succeed @AGPamBondi as attorney general, from @mrddmia (who is very well-connected in Trumpworld and has Trump's ear on legal matters).
China Releases Draft Ethical Review Guidelines for AI
Notice from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and eight other departments on Issuing the "Trial Measures for Ethical Review and Service of Artificial Intelligence Technology" https://t.co/S6lAEoicuu https://t.co/rf6ZaQxqZY
Tech Firms Enter Legal Limbo over Child Abuse Scanning
A temporary EU law that permitted voluntary scanning for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) expired on April 3, leaving tech firms in a legal gray area. Companies such as Meta, Google, Microsoft and Snap say they will continue scanning voluntarily while...
AI Is Reshaping Legal Research, Resistance Inevitable
“Al is already changing how legal information is accessed and applied at scale. The only real question was whether that shift would be resisted or structured” 👀 https://t.co/iu12fpk15G
Brussels Drafts Law to Tighten Espionage Penalties
Europe’s spying capital drafts a law to crack down on espionage https://t.co/NRSik1qWrN via @martoneder https://t.co/dIIsBmCjja
Roku TVs Could Be Banned in The US As A US Trade Panel Probes Them For Patent Violations
The U.S. International Trade Commission has launched a Section 337 investigation into Roku and Hisense display devices after InnoTV Labs claimed the products infringe its streaming‑technology patents. The probe, opened on April 1, 2026, could lead to a limited exclusion order that bars...
GHOSTED: Brandon Callier Wins Default Judgment Against Absentee Defendant
In the Western District of Texas, pro se plaintiff Brandon Callier secured a default judgment after Vanguard Alliance Group failed to appear in the TCPA and Texas Business and Commerce Code case. The court applied a six‑factor test, finding no...
Beijing Mandates Internal AI Ethics Reviews to Ensure ‘Controllable’ Tech
Beijing has issued new regulations requiring Chinese companies, universities, and research institutions to establish internal AI ethics review committees effective immediately. The committees must assess AI projects for fairness, controllability, explainability, and personal privacy, extending the 2023 unified ethics review...
SEBI Readies Digital Platform to Expand Adviser Base
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is set to launch a digital platform called SEBI SETU this month, aiming to streamline registration and ongoing compliance for investment advisers (IAs). The move comes as India’s retail market boasts over 22 crore...