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
Leasehold Bottlenecks Leave Buyers and Sellers Waiting Longer to Complete
Property transaction times in Great Britain have stretched dramatically, with the average period from offer to exchange reaching 104 days in April 2025, up from 76 days in 2019. Leasehold sales are the biggest outlier, taking 155 days—58 days longer than freehold deals—the widest gap on record. Mortgage‑funded purchases now lag cash transactions by nine days, and 37% of agreed sales ultimately fall through, with leasehold deals experiencing a 43% failure rate. The lengthening process exposes buyers and sellers to shifting mortgage rates, survey outcomes, and personal circumstances, increasing the risk of late‑stage collapse.
Barrister Denies Raping Client’s Daughter in Chambers
A UK barrister has denied raping the daughter of a client who is seeking a £100,000 (~$125,000) out‑of‑court settlement. The High Court refused to strike the claim outright, granting the claimant four weeks to file amended particulars and a medical...
Good Law Project Urges Review of BSB Decision on Gender-Critical Barrister
The Good Law Project (GLP) is demanding that the Bar Standards Board (BSB) revisit its decision to dismiss a complaint against family‑law barrister Sarah Phillimore for gender‑critical posts on social media. GLP submitted over 50 posts alleging harassment of a trans...
Boeing Faces Renewed Legal Risk; Consider Protective Puts
Boeing legal risk resurfaces as LOT alleges 737 MAX concealment, raising regulatory and litigation costs. Risk: more payouts, order headwinds. Trade: reduce BA exposure; buy protective puts. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA. More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
AI Leading to “Radical Shift” In Client Expectations
Law firms worldwide are confronting a “radical shift” in client expectations driven by artificial intelligence, according to a Positive Group study. Clients now demand lower fees and faster, AI‑generated outputs while still requiring human validation and full liability. The research...
The Biglaw Firm That Lost 8 Percent Of Its Partners Last Year
Above the Law reports that an elite Biglaw firm saw its partnership ranks shrink by 8% last year, the steepest drop among top firms. The firm is now emphasizing the recognition and promotion of younger lawyers to stem lateral departures...
US Trial Hears Witness Claims of Harassment over Chinese ‘Secret Police Station’
A U.S. federal trial is examining an alleged Chinese secret police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown, with government witness Xu Jie testifying that he faced intense harassment after live‑streaming a protest against the facility. Prosecutors presented WeChat messages indicating Fuzhou police...
Ex-Dodger Scott Erickson Says He 'Wasn't Racing' His Ex-Lover in His SUV when She Killed Two Boys
Former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson took the stand in a wrongful‑death lawsuit filed by the parents of two boys killed in a 2020 Westlake Village crash. He asserted he was not racing his ex‑lover Rebecca Grossman's Mercedes SUV, though he...
News Wrap: Supreme Court Temporarily Extends Access to Mifepristone
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an administrative stay on Friday, extending access to the abortion pill mifepristone through at least Thursday. The stay preserves telemedicine prescribing and mail delivery while justices consider an emergency request to block a lower‑court ruling...
Tupac Shakur Producer Daz Dillinger Sues Company Founded by Late Rapper’s Mom for Unpaid Royalties
West Coast producer Daz Dillinger has filed a federal lawsuit against Amaru Entertainment, the company that administers Tupac Shakur’s estate, alleging unpaid royalties for several of the rapper’s biggest hits. The complaint lists tracks such as “Ambitionz az a Ridah” and...
Lawsuit Challenges Trump's Reflecting Pool Project as Projected Costs Soar
The Cultural Landscape Foundation has filed a lawsuit to stop President Trump’s plan to repaint the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool blue, arguing the change breaches the National Historic Preservation Act. The project’s budget has ballooned from under $2 million to $13.1 million,...
In Liberty Global, the Tenth Circuit Leaves Taxpayers with an Opinion with Unresolved Questions
On April 21, 2026 the Tenth Circuit affirmed that the economic substance doctrine is relevant and applied it to deny Liberty Global, Inc. a $2.4 billion deduction tied to the “Project Soy” transaction, imposing a 40 % penalty. The court rejected the taxpayer’s claim that...
Class Counsel in $7.25B Roundup Settlement Ask for $675M in Legal Fees
Class counsel that negotiated the $7.25 billion Roundup settlement is seeking $675 million in legal fees. The request will be reviewed by St. Louis Judge Timothy Boyer, with a decision slated for July 9, 2026. The fee claim covers more than 18 months of negotiations...
New DFARS Rule Would Expand FOCI Requirements Beyond Classified Contracts
The Pentagon has issued a proposed Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) rule that would extend foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI) disclosure requirements to any contractor or subcontractor seeking DoD business on contracts exceeding $5 million. The rule mandates initial...
Ignorance Is Bliss
The Guardian and Associated Press report that the Trump administration is repeatedly ignoring federal court orders, especially in immigration cases, with roughly one in eight orders being defied. A nationwide injunction blocking mass deportations has been cited as a key...
Pitfalls to Avoid When Hiring Jury Consulting Firms
Hiring a jury consulting firm can dramatically influence trial results, but firms vary widely in pricing, methodology, and expertise. Common missteps include focusing on headline rates without accounting for third‑party expenses, skipping foundational research before mock trials, and letting preferred...
Tenth Circuit Affirms Fair Use of Archival Footage in Tiger King Copyright Dispute
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for Netflix in Whyte Monkee Productions v. Netflix, ruling that the 66‑second funeral clip used in the documentary series "Tiger King" qualifies as fair use. The court held that all...
Trump Administration Proposes Rework of BLM Grazing Regulations
The Trump administration has unveiled a proposed rule to overhaul the Bureau of Land Management’s grazing program, affecting roughly 155 million acres and 18,000 permits. The rule would shift land‑health assessments, permit targeted grazing for wildfire mitigation, and replace the phrase...
SCOTUS Adopts New Redistricting Test: Purcell for Me
Tomorrow I will be writing about the Supreme Court's new rule for deciding redistricting cases: Purcell for me but not for thee. Subscribe to Democracy Docket. You won't want to miss this. https://bit.ly/4meZPiV
Huge Frauds Tagged as ‘Got Pardoned by Trump’
Frauds above $1.5m in value are now in a special Justice Department category tentatively called ‘Got pardoned by Trump.’
How Long Car Accident Claims Usually Take to Resolve
Car accident claims in Greenville typically move through several stages—initial review, medical treatment, fault assessment, demand preparation, settlement talks, and, if needed, litigation and mediation. The speed of each phase hinges on factors such as injury severity, completeness of documentation,...
Dark Money Pushes Kids Online Safety Act Targeting Trans Youth
Another evil pro-mass surveillance, pro-censorship dark money group is running IG ads to push the Kids Online Safety Act, a law championed by anti-LGBTQ hate groups who Blackburn (co sponsor) claimed we must pass to “eradicate the transgender” in society....
What Car Accident Lawyers Do to Maximize Your Injury Settlement
In Florida's high‑traffic corridors, car accidents are common and can lead to complex injury claims. The article outlines how car‑accident attorneys maximize settlements by conducting thorough case evaluations, gathering evidence, and handling insurance negotiations. Lawyers also calculate both economic and...
“Joint” At the Hip? The DOL's New Proposal Could Reshape Joint Employer Liability
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a proposed rule on April 22, 2026 to create a uniform federal standard for determining joint‑employer status under the FLSA, FMLA and MSPA. The rule centers on actual control of workers, using a four‑factor test that...
Tech Antitrust Trials Reveal Expected and Unexpected Insights
Totally agree. I say this all the time and said something similar during the Google antitrust trials. No matter the outcome, these tech trials are always revelatory, in both expected and unexpected ways.
NZ Moves to Block Private Climate Lawsuits, Citing Investment Concerns
New Zealand’s government plans a law change to prevent private legal action against greenhouse gas emitters, arguing cases have created business uncertainty and deterred investment https://t.co/Bhd92C3bJ5
USPTO Extends Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program With Four-Month Decision Target
The USPTO has extended its Fast‑Track Appeals Pilot through May 6 2028 and tightened the decision deadline to four months from petition entry, down from six months. Since its launch in July 2020, the PTAB has decided 596 fast‑track appeals, averaging about three...
CRTC Confirms MVNO Start Date Contingent on Separate Access Agreement
The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) affirmed that a separate MVNO access agreement must be signed before Quebecor can offer mandated wireless service on Bell’s network. The regulator rejected Quebecor’s request to treat its existing roaming arrangement as sufficient...
Evening Roundup, May 11
The Contrarian’s May 11 Evening Roundup spotlights a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that struck down a voter‑approved redistricting referendum, keeping the 2021 congressional map in place and handing Republicans a structural boost ahead of the midterms. The decision nullified roughly three million...
Virginia Democrats Ask Conservative-Majority US Supreme Court to Restore Congressional Map Approved by Voters – Live
Virginia Democrats filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to overturn a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that struck down a voter‑approved congressional map. The map, passed in a recent referendum, was designed to add up to...
Tennessee’s New Solicitation Oversight Law
Tennessee’s General Assembly unanimously passed HB 2408/SB 2659, adding a statutory requirement for the Public Utility Commission to issue an annual compliance report on telemarketing and text‑message solicitations. The law, effective July 1 2026 if signed, does not alter existing solicitation rules but creates...
Jonathan Turley Defends Virginia Redistricting Opinion By Refusing To Explain It
Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down a voter‑approved constitutional amendment that would have let the legislature redraw congressional districts, arguing that early‑voting practices broke the amendment’s timing requirements. The 30‑page opinion relied on a novel reading of Article XII, Section 1, labeling the...
Building Strong Defenses: The Power of AML Training Program
Anti‑money‑laundering (AML) training has become a strategic priority as financial crimes grow in complexity. Organizations are investing in comprehensive programs that cover regulatory frameworks, risk assessment, customer due diligence, and internal controls. The Certified Anti‑Money Laundering Professional (CAMP) credential, offered...
Netflix Vows to Defend, Touts Kid‑friendly Controls
Netflix statement continued: "We look forward to addressing the Texas Attorney General’s allegations in court and further explaining our industry-leading, kid‑friendly parental controls and transparent privacy practices.” https://t.co/bLMByUdWzp via @variety
Netflix Calls Texas Lawsuit Meritless, Based on Misinformation
Netflix statement: “Respectfully to the great state of Texas and Attorney General Paxton, this lawsuit lacks merit and is based on inaccurate and distorted information." https://t.co/bLMByUdWzp via @variety
Missouri AG Says Congress or SCOTUS Must Address State Livestock Rules
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, joining a 24‑state coalition, urged the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Triumph Foods v. Campbell, a challenge to state livestock regulations that may violate the Dormant Commerce Clause. The coalition argues that laws such as...
Everything You Know About Contracting Has Changed
Federal procurement leaders say the traditional multi‑year, ROI‑focused contracting model is giving way to rapid, short‑term wins. Agencies now prioritize pilots, measurable outcomes within 30‑90 days, and policy‑driven sales tied to executive orders. Workforce shortages and retiring contracting officers are...
Court Greenlights Arbitrum DAO Vote to Move $71M in Recovered Kelp ETH to Aave
A federal judge in Manhattan modified a restraining notice, allowing the Arbitrum DAO to vote on transferring roughly $71 million in recovered ETH to Aave LLC while extending the freeze to the recipient. The order shields voters and participants from violating the...
SC Rule vs Mining ‘Trial by Sentiment’ Hailed
The Philippine Supreme Court dismissed a Writ of Kalikasan petition against Hinatuan Mining Corp., a unit of Nickel Asia Corp., citing insufficient form and substance. The court emphasized that environmental cases must be grounded in scientific evidence and proper judicial...
Spotlight On: Humira® (Adalimumab) / Amjevita™ (Adalimumab-Atto) / Cyltezo® (Adalimumab-Adbm) / Hyrimoz™ (Adalimumab-Adaz) / Hadlima™ (Adalimumab-Bwwd) / Abrilada™ (Adalimumab-Afzb) /...
Legal analysis released on May 11, 2026 details how claims against adalimumab patents—including Humira and its biosimilars—are tallied across Inter‑Partes Reviews (IPRs) and infringement lawsuits. The methodology counts each claim once per litigation or IPR, but duplicates across separate proceedings are counted...
ICAC NSW Opens ‘Pink Ops’ Hearings
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in New South Wales has commenced a four‑week public hearing series under Operation Navarra, targeting a group of former local‑government officials dubbed “The Pink Ops.” The commission alleges that former Parramatta City Council CEO...
Justice Alito Extends Administrative Stay of Mifepristone Order
Justice Samuel Alito extended the administrative stay on the Fifth Circuit's order halting telemedicine prescriptions of the abortion medication mifepristone, setting a new deadline for Thursday. The extension maintains the status quo while the Supreme Court considers whether to issue...
SCOTUS Rejects AI Assistance, Embraces Human Error Instead
The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will not employ artificial intelligence to draft opinions, citing cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Justice Amy Coney Barrett emphasized that AI-generated content could be compromised, reinforcing the Court's reliance on human authorship. The stance underscores a broader...
Art Problems: WTF Is an A-Corp?
Colorado lawmakers have introduced a bill to create an Artist Corporation, or A‑Corp, a new business form tailored for creators. Proposed by entrepreneur Yancey Strickler, the structure would let artists form a legal entity with a single form, bypassing the...
Canada's Bill C-31 Tightens Tax Deferral, Trust Transfers and Crypto Reporting for Wealth Advisors
Canada's Budget 2025 Implementation Act, Bill C-31, cleared its first reading on May 6, 2026, imposing stricter limits on tax deferrals, widening anti‑avoidance rules for trust transfers, and mandating crypto‑asset reporting. The changes force wealth advisors to overhaul planning strategies...
Feds Propose Rule to Help Employers Expand Fertility Benefit Coverage
The Trump administration has issued a proposed rule that would let employers offer fertility benefits, such as IVF, as “limited excepted benefits” with a $120,000 lifetime cap that will be indexed for inflation after 2028. By classifying these benefits as...
You Don’t Know Where Anything Comes From
A recent New York Times investigation reveals that the U.S. Mint has been buying gold sourced from Colombian drug cartels, despite legal requirements to purchase only domestically mined metal. The scheme exploits licensed cartel miners, middlemen, and U.S. refineries that fail to...
SEC Delays Launch of 24 Prediction‑Market ETFs, Echoing Bitcoin Fund Saga
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission halted the scheduled debut of 24 prediction‑market exchange‑traded funds, saying it needs more time to assess liquidity, market structure and investor safeguards. The move mirrors the protracted approval process for spot bitcoin ETFs and...
Oregon Judges Fine Lawyers $110K Over AI-Generated Legal Fabrications
A federal judge in Oregon imposed a $110,000 penalty on two attorneys after AI‑driven filings contained invented cases and citations. The state bar reports five Oregon filings and roughly 900 nationwide with similar hallucinations, underscoring a growing risk as lawyers...
Canada’s Bill C-22 Is a Repackaged Version of Last Year’s Surveillance Nightmare
Canada’s Bill C-22, dubbed the Lawful Access Act, revives the failed Bill C‑2 by forcing digital services to retain a full year of metadata and expanding data‑sharing with foreign governments. The legislation authorises the Minister of Public Safety to demand...