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
Baltimore Sues xAI over Grok Deepfakes
Baltimore filed a municipal lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI, accusing the company of violating the city’s Consumer Protection Ordinance by marketing its Grok AI assistant without warning about deep‑fake risks. The suit follows reports that Grok’s image generator produced roughly 3 million sexualized images in just 11 days, including 23,000 depictions of minors. Regulators in Europe and Asia have already opened investigations, while a U.S. class‑action claim by teenagers alleges child‑abuse material creation. The Baltimore case marks the first U.S. city‑level legal action targeting AI‑generated non‑consensual imagery.
General Conditions: How They Are Evaluated in a Builder’s Risk Claim
The article clarifies how general‑conditions costs are evaluated in builder’s risk claims, separating truly incremental expenses from fixed or duplicated overhead. It presents three typical claim scenarios—repair‑period costs, delay‑only costs, and combined repair‑and‑delay costs—and explains why only incremental or extended...
Swiss Federal Supreme Court Grants Jordan Chiles Request for Review of CAS Award
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court granted American gymnast Jordan Chiles a review of the Court of Arbitration for Sport award that stripped her 2024 Olympic bronze medal. The court applied Swiss arbitration law and invoked Article 190(a) of the Swiss Private...
EBA Consults On Draft Guidelines And RTS On Initial Margin Model Authorization
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has opened consultations on draft guidelines and regulatory technical standards (RTS) for authorising internal initial‑margin models under EMIR 3. The proposals target counterparties whose monthly average non‑centrally cleared OTC derivatives exceed €750 billion (about $818 billion USD), requiring...
2025 FLSA Litigation Metrics & Trends
Seyfarth Shaw’s Wage and Hour Litigation team released its 2025 FLSA litigation metrics, highlighting a 12% rise in federal wage‑and‑hour cases and a 9% increase in settlements compared with 2024. The report notes a surge in remote‑work overtime disputes and...
Force Majeure and LNG Contracts
Recent attacks on Gulf LNG facilities, including Qatar's Ras Laffan plant, have driven JKM prices above $25 per MMBtu and tightened supply for Asia, which absorbs 86% of Hormuz‑transiting cargoes. In Europe, TTF prices have surged past $64 per MWh,...
Time Is Running Out to File Real Property Tax Complaints in Ohio for Tax Year 2025
The March 31, 2026 deadline closes the window for filing real‑property tax complaints in Ohio for tax year 2025. Nine counties must reappraise their 2025 assessments, while eleven are required to update values. These assessments, dated January 1, 2025, determine the property‑tax bills paid throughout...
Federal Offshore Critical Minerals Leasing Gains Momentum Near CNMI
On March 18, 2026 the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued an Area Identification Recommendation covering more than 69 million acres offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, effectively doubling the original 35.5‑million‑acre request for information. The recommendation advances Executive...
What’s Trending In Trademarks // March 2026
A wave of early‑2026 decisions reshapes trademark and AI copyright law. A federal judge blocked OpenAI from using the name “Cameo” on its Sora video‑generation feature, underscoring the need for rigorous trademark clearance. The Supreme Court declined to review a...
Supreme Court Won't Hear Mortgage Firm's Appeal in CFPB Case
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Nationwide Biweekly Administration’s appeal, leaving a $7.93 million civil penalty and permanent injunction imposed by the Ninth Circuit. The CFPB had accused the former biweekly mortgage‑payment firm of deceptive marketing, claiming it collected about...
Trump Admin Battles Creators Of ICE Reporting Tools
The Trump administration is being sued by the creators of the EyesUp app and the Facebook group “ICE Sightings – Chicagoland,” who allege the government coerced Apple and Meta to remove their platforms in October. Apple cited Guideline 1.1.1, while...
Ally to Pay $500,000 After SEC Finds Robo-Advisor Infractions
Ally Financial will pay a $500,000 civil penalty after the SEC found its robo‑advisor cash‑enhanced accounts concealed a conflict of interest. The accounts allocated 30% of client assets to cash, generating interest rebates that offset the loss of advisory fees,...
Foreign Vessels Operating Under the Jones Act Waiver Should Consider What Other US Laws May Apply
The Trump administration issued a 60‑day Jones Act waiver covering 659 product categories, permitting foreign‑flagged vessels to operate on U.S. domestic routes. The waiver’s authority is limited to navigation and vessel‑inspection laws, leaving open whether other U.S. statutes such as...
Eastern District of Texas Tosses Random Chat's "Random Chat" Patent Under Section 101
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas dismissed Random Chat LLC’s patent infringement case with prejudice, finding the asserted claims ineligible under Section 101. Judge Rodney Gilstrap ruled that the patent merely covers the abstract idea of initiating...
Trump Administration Agrees to Consent Decree in Missouri V. Biden Social Media Case
The Trump administration entered a 10‑year consent decree in Missouri v. Biden, prohibiting federal agencies from pressuring major social‑media platforms to censor protected speech. The decree bars the Surgeon General, CDC, and CISA from threatening legal, regulatory, or economic sanctions...
KKDIK Update: Temporary Registration Pathways Clarified
The Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change clarified temporary registration pathways under KKDIK, allowing companies with pre‑registered substances but no lead registrant to file a temporary individual registration. All substances must have a full or temporary registration by...
Littler Lounge: OSHA Explained – Prevention, Preparedness and Protection
The Littler Lounge podcast episode breaks down OSHA’s role, detailing what employers can expect during inspections and why written safety policies matter. Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave, joined by OSHA practice leader Alka Ramchandani‑Raj, explore emerging issues such as...
US Mortgage Sued over Ransomware Attack
Former US Mortgage employee Richard Bernich filed a federal negligence lawsuit after the lender suffered a ransomware attack in May 2025 that compromised Social Security numbers, financial details and limited medical data of consumers and staff. US Mortgage, which originated...
Australia's Critical Infrastructure Security Laws "Toothless"
An independent review has labelled Australia’s Security of Critical Infrastructure (SoCI) Act “toothless,” arguing that its penalties are treated as a routine cost rather than a deterrent. The review urges a shift from paperwork‑centric compliance to a penalty‑based risk‑management regime...
PFAS Warning Labels On Consumer Goods – New Mexico Leads the Way
New Mexico enacted the PFAS Protection Act and approved a rule requiring warning labels on any consumer product containing intentionally added PFAS, becoming the first state to impose such universal labeling. The law sets a phased ban—cookware, food packaging, dental...
IBM Details Strategies for Navigating Intellectual Property Risks in Generative AI
IBM outlined a comprehensive playbook for firms confronting intellectual‑property (IP) risks tied to generative AI. The guidance stresses rigorous data provenance, licensing verification, and detailed documentation of model development. IBM warns that unlicensed training data can trigger costly litigation and...
A Black, Disabled Truck Driver Says He Faced Years of Harassment. Now It’s Going to Trial
A disabled Black truck driver, Joseph Sample Jr., alleges five years of racial slurs, disability harassment, and a hostile work environment at Cemex’s Bay Area concrete plants, culminating in his termination. Sample has filed a federal lawsuit in San Francisco...
Washington Becomes Latest State to Ban Noncompete Agreements
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Substitute House Bill 1155 on March 23, 2026, banning all employee and independent‑contractor non‑competition agreements statewide. The law, effective June 30, 2027, voids existing non‑competes and prohibits new ones, while preserving narrow exceptions such as nonsolicitation, confidentiality, trade‑secret, certain...
Could U.S. Pushback on Foreign Data Laws Recast Global Business Operations?
The Trump administration has formally instructed U.S. diplomats to push back against foreign data‑sovereignty and localization mandates. This marks a strategic shift toward encouraging cross‑border data flows to support AI and crypto innovation. Executives warn that divergent regulations in the...
Pentagon Labels Anthropic a Supply‑Chain Risk, Sparking First Amendment Lawsuit
The Department of Defense designated AI startup Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, effectively blacklisting it from all government contracts after the company refused to strip safety guardrails from its Claude system under a $200 million deal. Anthropic has sued, claiming the move...
Court Dismisses Suit Against N.Y. Times & Serial Productions over The Idiot Podcast
A federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed Allen Gessen’s lawsuit against The New York Times and Serial Productions over their upcoming "The Idiot" podcast. The court found no proper venue for Gessen’s promissory‑estoppel and Lanham Act claims and rejected his requests...
VA Restores AFGE Labor Contract, but Isn’t Implementing It, Court Documents Show
The Department of Veterans Affairs reinstated its master collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees/National Veterans Affairs Council after a Rhode Island federal judge’s preliminary injunction, but court filings show it continues to deny contract‑mandated benefits. More...
Nonbinary Doctor Sues NYC Health + Hospitals Alleging Forced Identity Concealment
Danielle Peterson, a nonbinary dermatology resident, filed a federal lawsuit against NYC Health + Hospitals alleging they forced her to conceal her gender identity, subjected her to harassment, and terminated her contract despite independent medical clearances. The complaint details directives...
EEOC Sues Grocery Chain for Firing Nursing Employee over Water Bottle
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Roundy's Supermarkets, the operator of Pick ’n Save and Metro Market stores, alleging the company fired a nursing employee who kept a water bottle at her workstation. The employee, a cake...
False Claims Act Enforcement in 2026
The DOJ announced a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act settlements for FY 2025, the highest ever, alongside 1,297 qui tam filings and 401 investigations. Health‑care fraud accounted for more than $5.7 billion of recoveries, while cybersecurity, procurement, and emerging customs‑trade claims...
SEC, Gov’t Agencies Boost Crackdown on Abusive Lending Practices
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, together with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Privacy Commission, issued a joint advisory tightening compliance for online lending platforms. The directive reinforces the Data Privacy Act and consumer‑protection rules,...
Progressive Defeats ERISA Challenge to Tobacco and Vaccine Surcharges
On March 20, 2026, a federal judge in Ohio dismissed all five ERISA claims brought by Progressive employees challenging tobacco‑free and COVID‑19 vaccine premium discounts. The court held that Progressive’s wellness program satisfied the “full reward” requirement without retroactive reimbursements...
Food and Drug Administration Expert Panel on Infant Formula “Operation Stork Speed”
Operation Stork Speed, the FDA’s new initiative launched in March 2025, convened an expert panel in June to overhaul U.S. infant formula regulations. The panel’s three‑part report recommends updating nutrient specifications, establishing a centralized formula database, and replacing outdated safety...
$14K Sanction for Local Counsel's Not Meaningfully Supervising Out-of-Jurisdiction Counsel
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon sanctioned local counsel Mr. Murphy $14,205.66—15% of the defendants’ awarded fees—for willfully violating Local Rule 83-3 by not meaningfully supervising out‑of‑jurisdiction attorney Mr. Brigandi. The court found Murphy failed to review...
Court Reverses Sergeant's Termination over Flawed Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation
An appeals court in Tennessee reinstated Sergeant Vatisha Evans‑Barken after finding her termination based on a flawed fitness‑for‑duty psychological evaluation. The assessment, performed by Dr. Emily Davis, concluded she was unfit despite normal test results and no DSM‑listed impairment. The...
Sports and Head Trauma: Legal Rights and Protection for Injured Athletes
Head trauma in sports has moved from a neglected issue to a major legal and medical concern. Athletes at all levels now face defined duties from leagues and youth programs, including duty of care, informed consent, and strict return‑to‑play protocols....
Do You Have Thoughts on Rental Fee-Related Regulations? Share Them with the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule targeting unfair or deceptive rental‑fee practices. Stakeholders—including renters, landlords, and property‑management firms—are invited to share experiences, data, or suggestions about fee transparency. The FTC will...
Biglaw’s Trump Ties Get Called Out: ‘Not A Place Top Litigators Want To Be’
Nine major law firms provided about $940 million in free legal services to Trump‑aligned causes, sparking criticism over partisan pro bono work. Beth Wilkinson, founder of Wilkinson Stekloff, warned that such ties damage a firm’s brand and deter top litigators. The controversy...
Software Claims Failed Alice Step One Where Purported Improvements Were Not Claimed
The Federal Circuit reversed a district court ruling that had upheld a $185 million verdict against Gen Digital for alleged patent infringement in its Norton antivirus software. The appellate court held the asserted claims were directed to an abstract idea at...
The Estate of ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’ Ordered to Pay $1.8 Billion to US Giant Two Years After His Tragic Death
Mike Lynch’s estate has been ordered by a UK High Court to pay Hewlett Packard $1.8 bn for the disputed 2011 sale of his software firm Autonomy. The judgment, which includes $236 m in interest, follows HP’s claim that Lynch and former CFO...
Trump Just Caved On One of His Biggest Power Grabs
The Justice Department withdrew its challenge to a district court’s authority and accepted the appointment of Robert Frazer as New Jersey’s U.S. attorney, ending an eight‑month vacancy. The move reverses the Trump administration’s claim that only the president can name top...
States Weigh Hospital Price Caps
Several states are weighing legislation to cap hospital charges relative to Medicare rates. Maine’s original 200% Medicare cap was softened to limit price hikes for specific insurance plans, while Delaware proposes a 250% cap that could trim $413 million from hospital...
Hanna Holdings Jockeys to Join Tuccori Commissions Settlement
Hanna Holdings is seeking to join the Tuccori global settlement fund that resolves homebuyer commission lawsuits, prompting plaintiffs in the Pennsylvania antitrust case Davis v. Hanna Holdings to file an injunction to block the move. The plaintiffs argue Hanna secured...
IAA Prosecutes Drone Operator for Impeding Investigation and Breach of Direction
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) successfully prosecuted drone operator Alan Brennan for obstructing an official investigation and violating a lawful direction not to fly. A District Court judge ordered Brennan to donate €400 (about $436) to charity and pay €750...
GOP Pushes SAVE America Act via Reconciliation Amid DHS Shutdown
NEW: Republican senators reportedly sold the White House on a plan Monday night to pass the SAVE America Act through a reconciliation package after enacting a funding bill for most of the DHS, which has been shut down for over...
Computable Consent Streamlines Rules Across Diverse Health Data
Reproductive, behavioral, and genetic data all carry different rules. We met with the Sequoia Project to discuss how computable consent aims to simplify enforcement. 🔗 https://t.co/pnMrgRE0pw @sequoiaproject #PatientPrivacy #HITSM
Senator Calls for FTC Investigation Into FICO Score Pricing
Senator Josh Hawley has asked the FTC to open an investigation into Fair Isaac Corp.'s (FICO) mortgage‑score pricing after documenting a 16‑fold jump from $0.60 to $10 per pull over five years. He argues the surge adds roughly $500 million in...
Entry-Level Legal Jobs Slightly Above Trend, Finance Below
So far, entry-level share of employment in legal, financial, & office admin occupations doesn't look functionally different from pre-2023 trends (the population is aging so important to benchmark). A bit above trend for legal, a bit below for finance, in...
Trump Antitrust Chief Cites Fictional Mobsters for Priorities
A very on-brand choice for the Trump antitrust chief to discuss how he models his enforcement priorities on fictional mobsters. https://t.co/KInCrSW83h
Ex-CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Was Recorded on Prison Tape Saying Doctors 'Better Find Me Incompetent'
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries, 81, is confronting federal sex‑trafficking charges that allege he exploited aspiring male models while leading the retailer. A defense psychologist highlighted a prison tape where Jeffries told doctors, “better find me incompetent,” bolstering...