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
Australian Regulator Imposes Additional Licence Conditions on Fiducian
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has imposed additional licence conditions on Fiducian Portfolio Services Limited after a thematic review flagged weaknesses in its investment governance and board oversight. Fiducian, which oversees roughly 9,800 member accounts and about $2 billion USD in assets, must undergo independent expert reviews of high‑risk products, its board, and its investment onboarding processes. The regulator also requires remediation plans and a halt on new high‑risk options until proper due diligence is confirmed. Compliance deadlines begin on 2 April 2026.
India Grandfathered Gains From Investments Made Before April 2017
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) announced that gains from investments made before 1 April 2017 are exempt from the General Anti‑Avoidance Rule (GAAR). The amendment to Rule 128 of the Income‑Tax Rules, 2026, creates a clear cut‑off, applying GAAR only to...
Perplexity AI Accused of Embedding ‘Undetectable’ Trackers for Secretly Routing Sensitive User Data to Meta and Google
Perplexity AI is confronting a proposed class‑action lawsuit that alleges the startup embedded undetectable trackers in its search engine, routing user conversations—including those entered in Incognito mode—to Meta and Google. The complaint, filed by a Utah resident, claims the data...
Kmart, Shein Sued by Aussie Fashion Label Sabo Skirt for Allegedly Ripping Off Designs
Australian label Sabo Skirt has filed a Federal Court lawsuit against Shein, Kmart and 14 other retailers, accusing them of copying dozens of its designs. The claim alleges infringement across 36 distinct patterns, with Shein specifically targeted for six items and...
Letting Agents to Offer ‘Pet Interviews’ Under New Law
From 1 May 2026 tenants in the private rented sector can legally request to keep pets, and landlords must not refuse unreasonably. The new legislation prompts letting agents to add “pet interviews” to their vetting process, assessing temperament and gathering veterinary references....
EU Extends Iran Sanctions, Citing Human Rights Concerns
The European Union announced on March 30 that it will extend its sanctions regime against Iran until April 13, 2027, citing persistent human‑rights violations. The package adds travel bans, asset freezes and a prohibition on exporting equipment that could be...
In Hawaii Trial, Navy Fights Claim of Ongoing Fuel Spill Risk
The U.S. Navy faces a federal trial over alleged ongoing petroleum discharges from pipelines at Pearl Harbor, stemming from the 2021 Red Hill fuel spill that contaminated Oahu’s water supply. Plaintiffs, led by the Wai Ola Alliance, argue that the Navy’s...
Judge Rejects Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner’s Request to Keep Sex Tape Settlement Private
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven A. Ellis rejected Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner's motion to seal most of their 2023 settlement with Ray J, allowing the agreement's terms to become public except for a partially redacted bank account number. The...
How Australia’s Financial Accountability Regime Aims to Strengthen Corporate Accountability
Australia’s Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) expands corporate liability beyond boards, targeting senior managers across banks, insurers and pension funds that represent roughly one‑third of the S&P/ASX 50 market cap. The regime imposes statutory duties of honesty, integrity, due care and...
Regulating Payment of Participant Data in Clinical Trials
A team of scholars led by Steve Calandrillo proposes that FDA and IRBs adopt fair‑market‑value (FMV) payments for the data participants generate in clinical trials. Currently, participants receive modest compensation—about $4,000 per year—solely for trial involvement, not for the valuable...
Delaware Law: M&A Checklist
Morris Nichols has released the 2026 edition of its 192‑page “Mergers & Acquisitions: A Delaware Checklist,” available for free download. The guide compiles the most critical Delaware court decisions on fiduciary duties, poison pills, deal protections, appraisal rights, preferred stock...
Judge Leon Blocked The East Wing Ballroom Based on Offended Observer Standing
Judge Leon issued an injunction halting construction of the White House East Wing ballroom after a National Trust member claimed an aesthetic injury, arguing she was an "offended observer" under Article III standing. The opinion cites Supreme Court precedents that require...
Restoring Meaning To American Citizenship
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on two cases challenging President Trump’s 2025 executive order that seeks to limit birthright citizenship by interpreting the Fourteenth Amendment’s “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” clause more narrowly. Gun Owners of America and other...
Judge Sends Two Montana Logging Projects Back to the Forest Service
A federal magistrate judge halted two Montana timber projects—the Gold Butterfly logging plan in Bitterroot National Forest and the Round Star Vegetation Management Project in Flathead National Forest—citing deficiencies in the Forest Service’s environmental analyses. The court ordered a supplemental...
Judge Lets Bridge Toll Lawsuit Move Forward, Removes Bay City From Case
A federal judge in Detroit allowed the core claims in a lawsuit over the Independence Bridge tolls to proceed while dismissing the City of Bay City as a defendant. The case now targets Bay City Bridge Partners, the private operator,...
US Multi-State Employment Rules Prompt Hiring Pause on Compliance Concerns – Study
A new FoxHire Multi‑State Hiring Compliance Burden Index reveals that half of U.S. employers reject qualified candidates over state‑specific employment rules, while 48% delay hiring or expansion due to regulatory uncertainty. Nearly half of respondents admit to turning down hires...
Guernsey Moves Toward Birth‑Certificate Reform for Same‑Sex Parents
Same‑sex parents in Guernsey are pressing the island's Policy and Resources Committee to finalize a consultation that would let both partners appear on a child's birth certificate. Couples like Rachel and Cat, whose daughter Lola currently lists only one parent,...
Child Safety and Section 230 Can Coexist Through Design Distinction
Can you have child safety and Section 230, too? I think so. But it requires acknowledging the distinction between speech and design: https://www.platformer.news/social-media-trials-230-content-design/
Judge Dismisses Foster Kids’ Suit Against Alaska
A federal judge dismissed the Alaska foster‑care class action, finding none of the five named plaintiffs had standing to sue over alleged violations of the ADA, due‑process rights, and the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act. The decision overturns a...
Kalshi Defends Event‑Trading Model as Derivatives, Not Sportsbook, Amid $2.7M Weekly Fees
Kalshi is pushing back against state regulators who label its sports‑related binary contracts as gambling, insisting the platform matches traders rather than taking bets. The dispute, involving $2.7 million in weekly fees and courts in Massachusetts, Nevada and New Jersey, could...
California Judge Issues Injunction Blocking Feds From Freezing $10 Billion in Child Care Funding
U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a tentative injunction halting the federal government’s attempt to freeze roughly $10 billion in child‑care, housing, and welfare grants for five Democratic‑led states. The judge found the administration likely lacked legal authority and offered no...
New Trump Executive Order Threatens Mail-In Voting
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 31, 2026 that overhauls mail‑in voting procedures nationwide. The order requires the federal government to compile verified voter eligibility lists for each state and restricts absentee ballots to voters appearing on those lists....
Target Forces Shoppers to Own AI‑made Purchases in New Gemini Terms
Target revised its terms on March 22 to treat purchases initiated by Google Gemini's AI shopping agent as authorized by the customer. The change anticipates a rollout that could let the bot recommend and complete orders, raising new risk and...
Subscribe to Democracy Docket for Trump's Voting Attacks Updates
I have a long night in front of me. But for those asking how to stay informed about Trump's latest attack on voting and the legal cases that will follow, my advice is to subscribe to Democracy Docket. I started...
U.S. Court Blocks Transfer of Mao Diaries to China
U.S. Court Ruling Keeps Mao Documents Out of China—Aide’s prized diaries can remain at Stanford, court rules @jamestareddy https://t.co/K0yoVjXR3w https://t.co/K0yoVjXR3w
US Credit Union First Tech Hires Federal Reserve Bank of Boston GC as First CLO
First Technology Federal Credit Union announced the hiring of Steven Wright as its inaugural chief legal officer. Wright joins from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where he was general counsel and chief ethics officer, bringing extensive regulatory and law‑firm...
Trump Set to Break Precedent, Attend SCOTUS Arguments
Trump will attend Supreme Court oral arguments for the birthright citizenship case at 10am ET on Wednesday, according to the White House official schedule. SCOTUS and the Historical Society say there's no official record of any sitting president ever attending oral...
Law Paywalls Fuel Ongoing Legal Hallucinations
the hallucinations will continue for as long as the law remains behind paywalls and held ransom by gatekeepers
A Federal Judge Found That Donald Trump Raped E. Jean Carroll. The Appeals Court Affirmed The Judgments.
A federal judge concluded that Donald Trump digitally penetrated E. Jean Carroll, characterizing the act as rape in the ordinary sense, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed both the $5 million sexual‑abuse judgment and the $83.3 million defamation award. The...
US Launches $166 B Tariff Refund Portal After Court Ruling
JUST IN: The US is urgently setting up a refund portal to return $166 billion in Trump tariffs after the Supreme Court's February ruling declared them unconstitutional.
Confusing Court Rulings with Draft Laws Sparks Panic
Taylor, this is the same entirely bizarre opinion that laced your pod with “these cases, he’s happy about them. are giving them more power…” “This is all part of the master plan…” ironically, panic confusing an appealable court decision based on...
Agency CIOs Must Supply Top-Down IT Contract Information, OMB Memo States
The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo requiring chief information officers of major federal agencies to report every IT contract they approve each month from May through October, creating a centralized view of government technology spending. The directive...
25-157 - Dugan V. Boston Digital Enterprises LLC Et Al
The U.S. District Court in Boston granted Boston Digital Enterprises’ motion to dismiss the case for lack of personal jurisdiction, dismissing the plaintiff’s claims without prejudice. Two days later, the court partially granted Exergen Corporation’s motion, striking the fraud and...
25-324 - Robbins V. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Et Al
On March 30, 2026, plaintiff Robbins filed a civil lawsuit against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and related parties in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The complaint, docketed as case 25‑324, seeks relief...
23-641 - McGinnis V. Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Co Et Al
The federal case McGinnis v. Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Co., filed in the Northern District of Oklahoma, reached a decisive procedural climax. On September 27, 2024, Judge Charles Goodwin granted six motions to dismiss and partially granted an eighteenth...
25-1356 - Nguyen V. Bondi Et Al
On February 9, 2026, Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin recommended granting Nguyen’s habeas corpus petition and ordering his immediate release, also requesting a declaration confirming the release. The recommendation was filed as a Report and Recommendation terminating the referral. On March 30, 2026, District Judge...
22-522 - Terry Et Al V. City of Oklahoma City Oklahoma Et Al
The federal case Terry et al v. City of Oklahoma City has seen a series of procedural rulings over three years. In September 2023, Judge Charles Goodwin dismissed multiple motions to strike and dismiss as moot. By March 2025, the...
25-751 - Cole V. Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Company Et Al
On March 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin issued an order granting ten motions to remand the Cole v. Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Company case back to Oklahoma state court. The decision reflects the court’s determination that the...
25-812 - Nguyen V. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Et Al
On March 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin issued an order denying the plaintiff’s motion to remand in Nguyen v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company. The court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims against Jason Hosch Agency, Inc. without prejudice...
26-227 - Huang V. Bondi Et Al
In 2026 the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma heard Huang v. Bondi et al, docket number 26‑227. The case involves plaintiff Huang suing Bondi and additional defendants, though substantive facts remain undisclosed. The court’s opinion...
Proactive Compliance Requires More Than Automation — It Demands AI-Driven Strategy
Compliance is moving from a reactive, post‑incident model to an AI‑driven, forward‑looking strategy. The Optro report shows that high‑maturity firms are six times more likely to embed AI across GRC functions, with 72% using it for proactive risk tracking and...
DC Circuit Pauses VOICE OF AMERICA Return-to-Work Order
A D.C. Circuit panel stayed the part of Judge Lamberth's Voice of America order that ordered USAGM employees back to work, until they can review the appeal. https://t.co/t8Tb05bKkU https://t.co/xA7JAjBjIg
25-551 - Merrick V. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Et Al
Merrick has filed a lawsuit against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and co‑defendants, claiming the insurer improperly denied coverage for losses stemming from recent Oklahoma wildfires. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of...
21-047 - First Mortgage Company LLC V. Strategic Mortgage Finance Group LLC Et Al
First Mortgage Company LLC sued Strategic Mortgage Finance Group LLC and related parties in the Western District of Oklahoma. On July 30, 2021, the court denied First Mortgage’s motion to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed. Five years later, on...
25-686 - Whinery Et Al V. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Et Al
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued two pivotal orders in the Whinery et al v. State Farm case. On December 15, 2025, Judge Charles Goodwin stayed the plaintiffs' motion to dismiss, putting the matter in...
24-714 - Saxon Et Al V. Safeco Insurance Company of America Et Al
On March 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman issued orders in Saxon et al v. Safeco Insurance Company of America. The court granted Liberty and Safeco’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing the plaintiffs’ breach of contract and breach of the duty of good...
25-421 - McBride V. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Et Al
A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, docket number 25‑421, pits plaintiff McBride against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and additional defendants. The complaint, filed in 2026, alleges that State Farm failed...
25-823 - Turner V. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Et Al
A lawsuit titled Turner v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company et al was filed in the Western District of Oklahoma in 2026. The plaintiff, Turner, alleges that State Farm engaged in bad‑faith practices regarding an insurance claim. The case...
Judge OKs eXp, Weichert Deals After 18-Month Battle
A U.S. district judge in Georgia gave final approval to the settlement agreements that eXp Realty and Weichert Realtors reached in the Hooper buyer‑agent commission lawsuit. eXp will contribute $34 million to a broader settlement fund exceeding $1 billion, while Weichert will...
DOJ Sues Minnesota Over Rules For Girls Sports
The U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota, asserting that the state’s policies allowing transgender girls to compete on girls’ sports teams breach Title IX’s prohibition on sex‑based discrimination. The complaint argues that the rules force...