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
Rescheduling Cannabis Under the Controlled Substances Act
President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order directing the Attorney General to initiate rulemaking that would move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The order follows a 2023 recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services, which cited a survey of over 30,000 physicians recommending cannabis to more than 6 million patients. The DEA is expected to open a 30‑day public comment period, but the change does not decriminalize cannabis or override state laws. Anticipated litigation and congressional action could shape the final outcome.
Bank of America Agrees to Pay $105 Million to Settle Epstein-Related Lawsuit
Bank of America agreed to settle a class‑action lawsuit tied to Jeffrey Epstein for roughly $105 million, ending a dispute that accused the lender of ignoring suspicious transactions linked to the financier. The settlement, pending Judge Jed Rakoff's approval, includes a potential...
FCC Delays Fox 29 License Challenge, Dismisses After Election
Unfortunately, this is about 10% of the story. First, it wasn’t a Fox affiliate. It was @FOX29philly owned and operated by Fox Corp., meaning the Murdochs. And it wasn’t a complaint. It was a petition to deny Fox 29’s TV...
AV1's Open, Royalty-Free Promise In Question As Dolby Sues Snapchat Over Codec
Dolby Laboratories has filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., alleging that the Snap app’s implementation of the AV1 video codec infringes Dolby’s patents. AV1, promoted by the Alliance for Open Media as an open, royalty‑free alternative to HEVC, is used...
Unveiling the Shield: AML Procedures Safeguarding Charities
The article outlines how anti‑money‑laundering (AML) compliance is essential for NGOs and charities to safeguard donor trust and prevent fund diversion. It details core procedures such as transparent record‑keeping, red‑flag detection, and rigorous due‑diligence on donors and partners. A dedicated...
No Papers, No Excuse: New Jersey Supreme Court Safeguards Wage Protections for Undocumented Workers
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in Lopez v. Marimac LLC that employers cannot evade state wage obligations by citing a worker’s undocumented status. The decision affirms that the New Jersey Wage Payment Law and Wage and Hour Law apply...
Third DCA Finds Two‑Year Delay in Reporting Property Damage Violates Prompt‑Notice Obligation
Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal held that an insured’s two‑year delay in reporting Hurricane Irma property damage breached the policy’s prompt‑notice requirement. The insured had observed roof tiles, water stains, and installed a tarp shortly after the September 2017 storm...
Nebraska Judge Allows Feds to Continue Using Prison Facility for ICE Detention
A Nebraska district judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s decision to allow a former minimum‑custody prison, the Work Ethic Camp, to serve as an ICE detention center. The ruling affirmed Governor Jim Pillen’s authority to contract with the federal...
Meta Hit with $375 Million New Mexico Penalty for Child‑Safety Violations
A Santa Fe jury found Meta liable for deceptive child‑safety practices and imposed the maximum $375 million civil penalty under New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. The verdict, the largest consumer‑protection judgment against a tech company, underscores mounting regulatory pressure on platforms to...
NerdWallet Study Finds Resort Fees Add $15‑$50 per Night, Sparking Consumer Backlash
A NerdWallet analysis of 160 U.S. hotels revealed that mandatory resort fees range from $15 to $50 per night, averaging $33. The finding has ignited consumer outrage and comes as the FTC tightens rules on price transparency for hotel bookings.
Chicago Investigates Delivery Robot Crashes Into Bus Shelters
Chicago officials are investigating a series of incidents in which autonomous delivery robots collided with public bus shelters, causing property damage and sparking debate over urban robot safety. The city has ordered a review of operating permits and is consulting...
Rep. Maxine Waters Demands Fed Explain Kraken's Master Account Access
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters has written to Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid seeking a detailed explanation of Kraken Financial’s newly approved limited‑purpose master account, which grants the crypto exchange direct access to Fedwire and other core payment systems. The...
White House Clears Path for Crypto in $48.1 Trillion U.S. 401(k) Market
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has finished reviewing the Labor Department’s proposal to allow cryptocurrency investments in 401(k) retirement plans. The move follows a 2025 executive order and could tap the $48.1 trillion U.S. pension market, signaling...
Tether Hires KPMG and PwC for $185 Bn USDT Audit as CLARITY Act Advances
Tether announced that KPMG will conduct a full audit of its $185 billion USDT stablecoin reserves, with PwC preparing internal systems for the review. The move comes as the CLARITY Act gains bipartisan support and the issuer eyes a $15‑$20 billion fundraising...
SEC and CFTC Agree: Ripple, Cardano, Shiba Inu, Hedera Designated Digital Commodities
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission reached a joint agreement that reclassifies Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Hedera (HBAR) as digital commodities. The move replaces the long‑standing securities‑focused enforcement model with...
Fidelity's $2.5M Settlement Highlights Persistent Banking Cyber Risks
Fidelity is preparing to close the door on a class action lawsuit stemming from a recent data breach, agreeing to pay $2.5 million to affected customers. While the settlement amount is relatively modest for a company of Fidelity's scale, the...
Puerto Ricans Are Suing Their Government To Protect Rincón’s Coast
Puerto Rico’s transportation highway authority (ACT) is building a two‑mile bike and pedestrian trail along Rincón’s coastline, sparking a lawsuit from the nonprofit Amigos de Tres Palmas. The plaintiffs allege that ACT ignored required permits, submitted fraudulent parcel data, and...
A Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit over Minnesota In-State Tuition for Students without Legal Status
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit challenging Minnesota's policy that grants in‑state tuition and scholarships to undocumented students who attended a state high school for at least three years. The ruling found the DOJ failed to prove discrimination...
Australian Treasurer Delays CGT Discount Decision, Sparking Property Investor Shift
Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed tax reform will be part of the May 12 budget but said a cut to the capital gains tax (CGT) discount remains undecided. The uncertainty has already prompted property investors like Abdullah Nouh to adjust tactics,...
Colorado Dealers Sue Scout Motors Over Direct‑Sales License, Threatening EV Dealership Model
A coalition of Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche dealers in Colorado has filed a lawsuit to overturn a state Motor Vehicle Dealer Board decision that granted Scout Motors a dealer license for direct sales. The dealers claim Scout’s extended‑range electric vehicle...
U.S. Judge Questions Sanctions Blocking Venezuela’s Funding of Maduro’s Legal Defense
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein pressed the Trump administration on Thursday over its refusal to let Venezuela fund former President Nicolás Maduro’s legal fees in a New York drug‑trafficking case. The judge highlighted a shift in U.S.–Venezuela relations and asked...
USPS Movers Guide Site Draws Fire Over Dark Patterns and Data Practices
The United States Postal Service’s Movers Guide website, run by private contractor MyMove, was slammed for deceptive “dark‑pattern” design and unclear data handling after a user‑experience researcher filed a complaint with the USPS Inspector General. The criticism revives scrutiny of...
A Will Isn't a Complete Estate Plan
Everyone knows what a will is. Almost nobody knows what it actually can't do. A will can't bypass probate. A will can't protect assets from your creditors. A will can't prevent a contested estate. A will can't control how your money is used after...
Accredited Investor Law Keeps Stablecoin Yield From Retail
Retail does NOT Deserve yield on Stablecoins. The accredited investor law has achieved its goal.
Lawyer’s Paradoxical Logic: Advance Notice Was ‘Groundless’ and Necessary
A public inquiry into the November Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed 168 residents, is scrutinizing the role of Hong Kong’s Independent Checking Unit. Senior Counsel Jenkin Suen, representing the government, labeled allegations that the unit tipped off the consulting...
The Texas Lawyer and Part-Time Pastor Who Beat Meta and Google
Texas attorney Mark Lanier, also a part‑time pastor, is leading a high‑profile trial against Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube, alleging the platforms are designed to be addictive and harm teenagers. In closing arguments in Los Angeles, Lanier illustrated his point...
“Headless” PAGA Claims — The Split in the Courts and What Employers Need to Watch
California employers face uncertainty over “headless” PAGA claims, which strip the individual component to keep the case in court and sidestep arbitration agreements. Appellate courts are divided: the Second District requires an individual claim and permits arbitration, while the Fourth...
Should You Apply for an O-1 or EB-1A Visa?
Professionals with extraordinary ability must choose between the O‑1 temporary work visa and the EB‑1A immigrant visa that leads to a green card. The O‑1 offers a 93.8% approval rate and requires a U.S. employer or agent sponsor, while the...
EB-2 NIW RFE: What It Means and How to Respond
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a routine step in the EB‑2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) process, indicating that USCIS needs additional documentation or clarification before deciding. With EB‑2 NIW filings up nearly 190% in recent years, RFEs have become...
91 Members of Congress Urge FCC to Set a Firm ATSC 3.0 Transition Date
A bipartisan coalition of 91 members of Congress sent a March 27 letter urging the FCC to establish a firm transition deadline for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0). The National Association of Broadcasters praised the move and reiterated its push for a 2028...
AI Product Liability: The Next Wave of Litigation
AI litigation is increasingly framed through product‑liability doctrine, as courts treat consumer‑facing AI systems as products rather than services. Early cases such as Garcia v. Character Technologies and Raine v. OpenAI illustrate plaintiffs focusing on design defects, inadequate safeguards, and...
Bundledocs Launches Review Tool, Enters Case Management Market
JUST IN: Bundledocs expands into case management with new Review tool - The addition of Review positions Bundledocs to capture a larger share of the legal case‑management market, challenging established niche vendors and streamlining litigation workflows for law firms and...
Threats to California’s Vote-By-Mail Mount Before June Primary
California’s vote‑by‑mail system is under pressure from two fronts. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized hundreds of thousands of November ballots, alleging fraud. Simultaneously, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to count mail‑in ballots that arrive after Election Day....
New Bill Threatens Rental Development, Spurs Fraud Concerns
Perfect example of a bill introduced in the CA legislature that would make running apartments more difficult, and therefore slow housing development (bc every developer of rentals is either a landlord-in-waiting or hoping to sell to one.) When we briefly allowed...
![[Expired – Class Action Settlement] [Targeted, CA only] Patelco Credit Union $300 Checking Bonus](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/patelco-400.png)
[Expired – Class Action Settlement] [Targeted, CA only] Patelco Credit Union $300 Checking Bonus
Patelco Credit Union is offering a $400 new‑account bonus, split into $300 for opening a free or interest checking account, $50 for adding a Money Market account, and $50 for enrolling in the RoundUp savings feature. To earn the $300...
The Legal Industry's Penrose Moment
The legal sector’s headline metrics—steady rate growth, rising profit per equity partner (PEP) and expanding headcount—appear strong individually but form a contradictory picture when combined, a phenomenon dubbed the industry’s "Penrose Moment." Private‑equity firms are intensifying pitches to Am Law...
New York City Sues to Ban ‘Unlawful’ Empower Ridehail App
New York City filed a lawsuit on March 27, 2026, seeking a permanent ban on the ride‑hail app Empower for operating without a Taxi and Limousine Commission license. The city alleges the service has been illegal since its 2022 launch,...
UMG Blasts Drake Appeal in Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’: ‘That Is Not the Law’
Universal Music Group (UMG) has rejected Drake’s appeal to revive his defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy‑winning diss track “Not Like Us.” A federal judge dismissed the original case in October, ruling that rap battle lyrics are hyperbolic opinions, not...
Regulatory Spotlight Shifts From Single-Family Rentals to Apartments
My latest newsletter: The regulatory spotlight shifts from single-family rentals to apartments. Also, I dug into Sen. Warren's letters probing rental housing investors, which include 7 claims that may sound alarming but that lack critical context needed for a real discussion....
Where The Head Goes The Body Follows — See Also
A wave of legal headlines highlights turbulence across the sector: midsize firm Taylor Duma is closing after a partner exodus ending its 21‑year run; Section 230 faces renewed scrutiny following recent verdicts against Meta; a white law student’s multi‑million discrimination...
US Tech Companies Must Be Accountable in US Courts for Facilitating Persecution and Torture Abroad, EFF Urges US Supreme Court
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a 9th Circuit ruling that U.S. tech companies can be sued under the Alien Tort Statute for aiding foreign human‑rights abuses. The case focuses on...
Jazz Musician Sued by Kennedy Center Over Canceled Show Asks Judge to Dismiss Lawsuit
Chuck Redd canceled a Christmas Eve concert at the Kennedy Center after the venue added President Donald Trump’s name to its signage, prompting the Center to sue him for roughly $1 million in breach‑of‑contract damages. Redd’s attorneys filed a motion to...
Department of Justice Elevates Animal Welfare Enforcement, Possibly Targeting Companies Involved in Animal Testing
On February 18, 2026 Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a Department of Justice memorandum that elevates animal‑welfare enforcement across the Animal Fighting Venture Prohibition Act, Animal Welfare Act, Animal Crushing Statute, and Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act. The memo...
Julia Ormand Wins; CAA Exec Forced to Testify
News: Actress Julia Ormand picked up a win today in her legal case claiming CAA knew that Harvey Weinstein was a pig and sent her into private meetings with him anyway. Michael Ovitz, CAA’s co-founder, is being forced to testify...
HUD Challenges Telework Restoration Orders, Calling Them ‘Disruptive’
The Department of Housing and Urban Development filed a Federal Labor Relations Authority appeal to overturn a third‑party arbitrator’s February 2026 order restoring telework for roughly 7,000 HUD employees. HUD argues the arbitrator exceeded its authority, citing its contractual right...
How RealPage Is Turning the Page After DOJ Settlement
RealPage settled a DOJ antitrust case in November, allowing it to keep selling its rental‑pricing software but barring the use of competitors' non‑public data. The settlement involved no admission of guilt or financial penalties and affected only about 7% of...
They Might Have Been Like Cain and Abel
A Maryland district court dismissed a 10(b) securities fraud suit against former iLearnEngines (iLE) officers, finding plaintiffs failed to prove the AI firm’s partnership with Experion Technologies qualified as a related party. The case stemmed from a Hindenburg report that...
FCC Moves Ahead With Revising 13 Broadcast Rules
The FCC adopted 13 rule revisions that loosen broadcast regulations, including dropping the 20% minimum power‑increase requirement for AM stations and extending special‑temporary authority periods to 180 days. It also eliminated the ten‑application cap for the 2021 non‑commercial educational FM...
Mark Zuckerberg Offered to 'Help' Elon Musk with DOGE in 2025
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg exchanged texts in February 2025 in which Zuckerberg offered Meta’s support for Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, pledging to help remove doxxing content. Musk replied with a heart emoji and quickly shifted the...
SEC Accuses College Student of Siphoning Nearly $7 Million From Two Investment Funds
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil suit against Tulsa college student Krish Kumar, alleging he ran two investment funds—Future Fractal Investments and Arcane Resonance Fund—while misappropriating roughly $7 million. Kumar promised a proprietary algorithmic options strategy, fabricated...