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
Breaking: Senator Ron Johnson's Investigative Subcommittee Letter Submitted as Supplemental Authority in Sansone V. DeSantis mRNA Bioweapons Case
Dr. Joseph Sansone has filed Senator Ron Johnson’s investigative subcommittee letter as supplemental authority in his appellate lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, alleging that mRNA COVID‑19 injections function as biological weapons. The filing cites a concealed ischemic‑stroke safety signal linked to the Pfizer‑BioNTech bivalent booster and seeks to prove intent behind the vaccines. The case, first filed on Dec. 1, 2024, has been dismissed twice and is now awaiting the state’s answer brief by March 30, 2026. The post includes the PDF filing and fundraising links.
Puma Trademark Challenge Against Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red Fails
Singapore’s Intellectual Property Office has dismissed Puma’s opposition to Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red trademark, finding no likelihood of consumer confusion. The decision follows Puma’s challenge to the new brand’s tiger‑inspired logo, which IPOS deemed visually dissimilar from Puma’s puma...
Meta Loses Trial After Arguing that "Child Exploitation Was Inevitable"
Meta was ordered by a New Mexico jury to pay $375 million after the court found the company failed to protect children from exploitation and misled parents about safety on its platforms. The verdict, reached in a single day of deliberation, marks...
Additional Testimony Against the Proposed "Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act"
An additional written testimony was filed with the House Judiciary Subcommittee to oppose the "Preserving a Sharia‑Free America Act," which would bar most Muslim immigration and deport non‑citizen Muslims. The testimony focuses on a 2024 Heritage Foundation survey of American...
SOC 2: Theater, Yet Reveals AI Companies’ Third‑Party Stack
SOC 2 is largely useless theater, much like SOX compliance, but it’s quite useful for identifying the third-party providers a website relies on. DeployGraph: What infrastructure does every AI company run on? https://www.deploygraph.com/
Senate Launches Probe Into Private‑Equity Child‑Care Cost Surge
A Senate committee has opened a high‑profile investigation into the role of private‑equity firms in rising child‑care costs. Lawmakers say the probe will examine pricing practices, ownership structures and potential antitrust concerns, signaling fresh regulatory scrutiny of the sector.
Consumers Energy Seeks $350 M Delay of Hardy Dam Upgrades Amid Controversial Sale
Consumers Energy filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to push back the start of a $350 million spillway replacement at Michigan’s Hardy Dam until the end of 2028, citing the pending sale of the dam to Confluence Hydro....
Home BancShares Secures Federal and State Approval to Merge with Mountain Commerce Bancorp
Home BancShares, Inc. has obtained regulatory clearance from the Federal Reserve Board and the Arkansas State Bank Department to merge with Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc. The approval paves the way for a deal expected to close in early Q2 2026,...
Paramount‑Skydance Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Hit by Political Backlash
Paramount Global and Skydance have emerged as the leading bidder for Warner Bros. Discovery, but the deal now faces a wave of political criticism. Senator Elizabeth Warren and actress Jane Fonda released a video denouncing the merger as an abuse...
OpenAI Lifts Ban on Erotica in ChatGPT, Sparking Legal‑compliance Alarm in Adult‑content Sector
OpenAI announced it will permit erotic material on ChatGPT, prompting immediate legal‑compliance worries for adult‑content providers. The shift arrives as OpenAI grapples with $13.1 billion in revenue, $120 billion of funding, and recent product cutbacks, raising questions about liability, age‑verification and obscenity...
Tesla Robotaxi Valuation Threatened as NHTSA Probe Expands to 3.2 M Vehicles
Analysts say Tesla's robotaxi ambitions are jeopardized after the U.S. safety regulator broadened its Full Self‑Driving probe to 3.2 million vehicles, a move that could force a costly recall and erode the $1.2 trillion valuation built on future autonomous‑ride revenue.
House Republicans Block Senate Tie‑up of Housing Bill and Community‑Bank Crypto Deregulation
House Republicans voted to reject a Senate amendment that would have linked a housing‑affordability bill to a package loosening crypto rules for community banks. The move leaves the housing measure and pending crypto‑related banking reforms on separate tracks, heightening uncertainty...
Wearable Health Trackers Spark Data‑Privacy Alarm as Biometric Data Goes Public
Smartwatches, period‑tracking apps and AI‑enabled glasses are harvesting unprecedented volumes of biometric data. FTC actions against femtech firms and mounting legal pressure in abortion‑restrictive states have turned the devices that promise wellness into privacy flashpoints.
Beyond Borders: Labor Law Strategies for Cross-Border Deals
Mayer Brown employment partners Marine Hamon and Pauline Stadler dissect labor‑law challenges in cross‑border transactions between Germany and France. They detail works‑council consultation mandates, statutory timelines, employee‑transfer rules, and confidentiality duties that can shape carve‑outs and asset deals. The lawyers...
New Mission: Turn Regulatory “Big Ideas” Into Real-World Results
The Federation of American Scientists launched the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity (CRI) to modernize climate policy tools that were originally crafted in the 1970s. Dr. Hannah Safford explains that legacy regulations, such as fuel‑economy standards and the Clean Air Act,...
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Comprehensive Guide to Due-on-Sale Clauses: What They Are and Their Exceptions
A due‑on‑sale clause obligates borrowers to repay the entire mortgage balance if the property is sold or transferred, protecting lenders from interest‑rate risk. Most U.S. mortgages contain this provision, but notable exceptions exist for divorces, inheritances, and transfers to living...
HaystackID: Protecting Privilege and Work Product in Discovery After Heppner and Warner
Recent rulings in United States v. Heppner and Warner v. Gilbarco illustrate how courts are grappling with the intersection of generative AI and evidentiary protections. Heppner held that AI‑generated content, created without direct attorney instruction, is not shielded by lawyer‑client...
Exterro: The High Cost of Chaos: 5 Ways a Proactive Litigation Playbook Reclaims Your Budget
Exterro’s recent article highlights how unchecked litigation data can balloon costs, citing Marathon Petroleum’s experience of amassing 100 terabytes of largely redundant information. The legal‑ops leader, Greg Gruic, describes the unsustainable storage expense caused by preserving everything “just in case.”...
Oil and Gas Services Company Qteq and Its Chairman Collectively Fined $6 Million for Attempted Cartel Conduct
The Federal Court fined Queensland‑based oil‑service firm Qteq Pty Ltd $5 million AUD (≈$3.3 million USD) and its chairman Simon Ashton $1 million AUD (≈$0.66 million USD) for five attempts to secure cartel arrangements between 2017 and 2019. The penalty against Ashton is the...
Petra Pasternak, Everlaw: Simplify DSAR Responses with Time-Saving Technology
Petra Pasternak of Everlaw warns that organisations are underestimating the growing cost and risk of data subject access requests (DSARs). Recent UK legislation – the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 – together with updated ICO guidance and the Ashley...
DRC Ministry of Mines Revokes Multiple Mining Titles for Non-Compliance
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ministry of Mines has cancelled twelve mining titles that were issued in 2026 after the holders failed to meet legal and financial obligations, chiefly the non‑payment of annual surface fees. The revocations affect a...
Reveal: EDiscovery Deployment Options: Processing at Source Vs. Cloud
Reveal highlights that most litigation failures stem from poor data control rather than data scarcity. As data volumes surge and regulations tighten, organizations must choose between processing eDiscovery at source—on‑premises or private infrastructure—and migrating workloads to a shared or public...
Protect Red-State Voters From Suppression Schemes Too
We focus a lot on what DOJ is trying to force on blue states but what about the red states? What about red counties who are willing to collaborate with Trump's voter suppression schemes? We need to protect their voters...
SMCI Sued over Co‑founder’s China Case, Governance Woes Deepen
$SMCI can't stay out of the headlines. Shareholder lawsuit over a China-related criminal case involving the co-founder adds another layer to what's already been one of the most governance-challenged names in the AI infrastructure space. https://t.co/c811DrSJl7
Stricter Rules for Digital Platforms
Thailand has enacted comprehensive trade‑competition guidelines for multi‑sided digital platforms, effective March 24, 2026. The rules target e‑marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop, tightening oversight of commission, advertising, logistics and payment fees. They also prohibit self‑preferencing, price‑parity clauses, and discriminatory...
Google and Meta Found Liable in Landmark Social Media Case
#InTheNews. March 25, 2026. Tech giants Google and Meta are both found liable for negligence and for failure to warn in a landmark #SocialMedia case. (Fox News) #Internet #History https://t.co/Y5B7zPqFlk
DigiPlus Backs Further Tightening of Gaming Regulations
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. announced its support for a tighter regulatory framework for the Philippines’ digital entertainment sector, joining a technical working group to draft new legislation. The proposed rules would tighten payment‑channel oversight and impose stricter marketing restrictions to boost...
Why Early Case Evaluation Changes Outcomes
Early case evaluation—reviewing evidence and risks immediately after an incident—is reshaping personal injury practice in Dallas. By pinpointing liability, costs, and strategic options at the outset, lawyers can craft stronger negotiation positions and avoid unnecessary motions. The approach trims litigation...
UK Launches Pilot to Ban Social Media for Children Under 13, Impose Time Limits
The UK government has started a 12‑month pilot that will ban social‑media accounts for children under 13 and enforce daily usage caps and evening curfews. The trial, run in partnership with local authorities and schools, aims to gauge the impact...
Russia Bans Probation for Women with Children Under Three
Russia’s State Duma passed amendments to the Labour Code that forbid employers from imposing a probation period on women who have children under three years old. The change expands an existing rule that covered mothers of children up to 1.5...
Lancashire Homeowner Risks Losing House After £180,000 Extension Dispute
Suzie Cavadino, a mother of four in Aughton, Lancashire, faces a demolition order for her £180,000 two‑storey extension, putting her family at risk of homelessness. The enforcement notice was upheld by the Planning Inspectorate and must be complied with by...
Social Media Liability: Meta Ordered to Pay Millions in Total Damages
A federal jury found Meta and Google liable for causing teen mental‑health harm, ordering the companies to pay combined damages in the millions. The verdict stems from a class‑action lawsuit alleging that algorithmic feeds amplified harmful content to minors. Both...
Judge Calls Pentagon’s Anthropic ‘Supply‑Chain Risk’ Designation Potential Punishment
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin said the Pentagon’s decision to label AI firm Anthropic a supply‑chain risk looks like an attempt to punish the company for its public stance on military AI use. The judge will rule on Anthropic’s request...
Meta, Google Lose Case; Victim‑smearing Condemned
Meta and Google lawyers had ample time to make their case. They lost for a reason. And smearing a victim like this is ugly, @TaylorLorenz
Privacy Considerations Training
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Information Policy is hosting a virtual Privacy Considerations Training on July 8, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. EST. The two‑hour session focuses on how agencies can protect personal data while complying with the Freedom of...
Continuing FOIA Education Training
The U.S. Department of Justice is hosting a free, two‑hour virtual training on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm EST. The session, updated on March 24, 2026, is aimed at federal employees, public...
Exemption 1 and Exemption 7 Training
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Information Policy is hosting a virtual training on FOIA Exemptions 1 and 7 on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. EST. The two‑hour session will walk participants through the legal nuances of protecting classified national‑security information...
Exemption 4 and Exemption 5 Training
The Department of Justice’s Office of Information Policy is hosting a virtual training on June 17, 2026 to clarify FOIA Exemptions 4 and 5. The two‑hour session runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. EST and is open to agency staff, attorneys, and transparency professionals. Exemption 4...
Meet Keith – the AI-First Law Firm Looking to Transform Conveyancing
AI‑first law firm Keith has secured $2.5 million in seed funding to launch a fully automated conveyancing platform this summer. The firm will use a network of 38 specialized AI agents to handle up to 80% of the transaction workflow, aiming...
LSB Introduces Hierarchy in Lawyers’ Ethical Duties
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has issued a new statutory policy that explicitly ranks lawyers' duties, placing the duty to the court and the requirement for independence and integrity above the duty to act in a client’s best interests when...
PE-Backed Firm Sees Capping Billable Hours as Key to Growth
IDR Law, a Yorkshire‑based probate specialist, caps solicitors at 25 billable hours per week and has posted 40% annual growth over the past two years. The firm processed more than 20,000 inheritance disputes, generates roughly 500 referrals monthly, and secured a...
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Navigating the SEC's Cooling-Off Rule in Securities
The SEC’s so‑called cooling‑off rule is actually Regulation M, which imposes a quiet period between filing a preliminary prospectus and the public sale of new securities. During this window, issuers and underwriters cannot market the offering, helping to prevent premature hype...
Strikethrough Pricing Lawyer on Compliance With FTC and State Discount Pricing Laws
Strike‑through pricing, where a crossed‑out “regular” price precedes a lower sale price, remains under close scrutiny by the FTC and state regulators. The FTC’s Deceptive Pricing Guides demand that any former price be a genuine, regularly offered price for a...
Mixed-Use Governance: Forward Marketability
Mixed‑use projects require governance documents that differ markedly from traditional residential schemes, focusing on forward marketability for commercial buyers and long‑term lessees. The article argues that rigid residential‑style controls—such as unilateral declarant approvals—create friction and diminish liquidity, especially for early...
Harry and Meghan Celebrate Humbling of Meta
Harry and Meghan praised a jury verdict that found Meta and Google negligent, alleging their platforms caused harm to a young woman named Kaley. The court concluded the companies acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, extending liability to Instagram and...
ASIC to Educate on Sustainability Disclosure Compliance, Commissioner Court Says
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced it will educate entities that miss sustainability reporting guidance when they first apply. Commissioner Sarah Court told a corporate committee that ASIC’s surveillance program will scrutinise how firms implement the new ESG...
Indonesia: Balancing Screen Time and Safety for Child Well-Being
Indonesia’s child‑rights watchdog KPAI is urging the government to rigorously enforce the upcoming PP Tunas online‑safety rules, slated for full effect in March 2026. The regulation will compel digital platforms to adopt age‑appropriate design, restrict users under 16 on high‑risk social media,...
Meta and Google Ordered to Pay $3M for Child Addiction
Instagram and YouTube were found liable by a jury for their product design that damaged the mental health of a child who became addicted to the platforms. Meta and Google must pay $3M, in what is the first of thousands of...
French Prosecutors Probe Rothschild Paris over Epstein Informant Ties
As reported by the respected French newspaper Le Monde, French prosecutors are probing Rothschild’s Paris branch over links to former French Diplomat and EPSTEIN INFORMANT Fabrice Aidan. THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN STORY JUST WON'T GO AWAY. https://t.co/YoRpcXnqy6
Prediction Markets Ignore Legislation About Themselves
Hmmm.... @Kalshi & @Polymarket have dozens of prediction markets on whether or not Congress will pass certain laws.... Yet none on if Congress will advance laws, like the PREDICT Act or The Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act, that regulate prediction markets🤔...