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
Judge Blocks Lawyer's Distribution of Animation That Allegedly Shows "Uncommanded Discharge" Of Sig Sauer Pistol
Judge Victor Bolden issued a permanent injunction prohibiting attorney Jeffrey Bagnell from using a five‑minute animation that falsely depicts a Sig Sauer P320 pistol discharging without a trigger pull. The court classified the animation as commercial speech under the Lanham Act, finding five literal inaccuracies in the depiction of the pistol’s sear, striker foot, slide movement, safety notch, and dimensions. Because the material was created to attract plaintiffs for the firm’s services, it qualified as false advertising and was barred from any advertising platform. The order limits the specific animation’s use but does not restrict the lawyer’s broader practice or commentary.
Pump-and-Dump Lawsuit Alleges Scammers Weaponized a Real Advisor's Stolen Identity
A class‑action lawsuit alleges that micro‑cap firm Concorde International Group and its gatekeepers facilitated a pump‑and‑dump scheme by stealing a registered advisor’s identity. The company’s Nasdaq IPO surged to $31 before crashing 80% within a day, driven by fake social‑media...
FINRA Bars Ex-Pruco Broker Who Took $500k+ Commissions From Forged Clients’ Signatures
FINRA barred former Pruco Securities broker Avinesh Shankar after uncovering a scheme in which he used electronic signature software to forge client signatures on 115 annuity applications. The fraudulent filings generated $511,609 in advanced commissions that were never tied to...
Dalilah Bill Split Could Spark Trucking Super Cycle
Two versions of the Dalilah's bill are in Congress: House - Out of committee and up for a vote. Non-dom CDLs expire within 12 months. Senate - Still in committee. Non-dom CDLs expire within 6 months. TD Cowen estimates that...
GAO Evaluation of CMMC Program and Important Information for Defense Contractors
The Government Accountability Office released a report reviewing the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program, calling it fundamentally sound but in need of adjustments. GAO highlighted gaps in external factor analysis, such as the limited pool of...
Federal Courts Split on Trade Secret Identification Requirements Under the DTSA
Federal appellate courts are divided on when a plaintiff must specifically identify alleged trade secrets under the Defend Trade Secrets Act. The Fourth Circuit requires detailed particularity at the pleading stage, while the Ninth Circuit permits general allegations and expects...
Experts Celebrate White House Reversal on Bank Citizenship EO
Banking experts welcomed the White House’s decision to delay a Trump administration proposal that would have required banks to collect customers’ citizenship information. The mandate, seen as an extension of immigration enforcement into financial regulation, raised concerns about massive customer...
Bill C‑22 Threatens Massive Surveillance: Do Canadians Agree?
Bill C-22, if passed, will permit the government to mandate a new massive surveillance infrastructure ordering tech companies and telcos to collect more data for the police. Is this something Canadians want?
Attorneys Condemn AI Publicly, Profit From It
attorneys publicly dragging AI while quietly running it through their CRM, marketing, and research tools need to be studied. nobody said it's a lawyer. but telling people to steer clear of it entirely while your firm's chatbot answers intake questions at...
U.S. Seeks Billions From Harvard in Alleged Antisemitism Suit
The U.S. Justice Department filed a 44‑page lawsuit against Harvard University, alleging the school deliberately ignored harassment of Jewish and Israeli students following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. The complaint invokes Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and seeks to recover...
Depop Faces Class Action over Hidden Marketplace Fees Weeks Before Its $1.2B eBay Acquisition Closes
Depop is facing a California federal class‑action lawsuit over its mandatory marketplace fee that is disclosed only at checkout. The suit alleges the hidden $1.55 fee on a $17 purchase violates the state’s Honest Pricing Law, which bans drip pricing...
Founder’s ‘Hail Mary’ Attempt to Reclaim $1B Whiskey Empire Blocked by a Judge
A federal judge ruled that founder Fawn Weaver's Chapter 11 filing for the Uncle Nearest whiskey brand was unauthorized, violating a prior court order that placed the company under receivership. The receiver, appointed after a $100 million fraud lawsuit by lender Farm Credit...
JetBlue Pilots Sue Airline Over ‘Blue Sky’ Partnership With United That They Fear Will Lead to Job Losses
JetBlue pilots, represented by ALPA, have filed a lawsuit to force full arbitration over the airline’s new "Blue Sky" partnership with United, which they claim threatens the jobs of more than 4,600 pilots. The partnership, announced in May 2025, allows...
Calif. Bill Would Require Certification for Stone Fabrication Shops
California lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 2137 to create a statewide certification system for shops that fabricate engineered stone, granite, marble and similar slab materials. The bill directs Cal/OSHA to develop an application process, with certifications issued for three years beginning...
Court Dismisses Biden Fiduciary Rule, Prompting New Label Strategy
This #WeekendReading: U.S. District Court has formally put an end to the Biden-era Retirement Security Rule (aka "Fiduciary Rule 2.0") after the Trump administration's Department of Labor elected not to defend the rule against lawsuits led by groups representing product...
CFTC Allows FCMs to Use Bitcoin for Margin
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 CFTC announces Futures Commission Merchants can accept Bitcoin as margin collateral. https://t.co/oNOW4PB9po
SCC Rules RCMP Authorized to Approach Car in Driveway, but Breached Charter when They Opened Door
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that RCMP officers breached the Charter’s Section 8 right when they opened a truck door in a driveway, but the evidence obtained remains admissible. The majority held that the implied‑licence doctrine permits officers to approach...
White House Unveils National AI Regulatory Framework
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 The White House introduces a national policy framework to guide AI regulation. https://t.co/lLgBBS8OkL
Supermicro Responds to US Indictment of 3 Individuals Tied to Export Control Allegations
Supermicro announced that it is not named in a U.S. indictment involving three individuals accused of conspiring to violate export‑control laws. The charged parties include senior vice president and board member Yih‑Shyan Liaw, a Taiwan sales manager, and a contractor....
In Canada: Ontario Government Wants to Ban Resale Tickets That Exceed Face Value
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a province‑wide ban on ticket resale above face value, aiming to curb scalpers and protect consumers. The IFPI Global Music Report shows Canada’s recorded music revenues rose 5.6% in 2025 to $957.9 million, driven largely by...
![[Video] The Briefing: The Sound of a Lawsuit – David Greene vs Google NotebookLM](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://jdsupra-static.s3.amazonaws.com/profile-images/og.15496_4323.png)
[Video] The Briefing: The Sound of a Lawsuit – David Greene vs Google NotebookLM
Broadcaster David Greene has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the AI‑driven NotebookLM tool reproduces his distinctive voice without permission. The case centers on a right‑of‑publicity claim, requiring Greene to demonstrate that Google’s voice model appropriates his identity and...
Drone Pilots Face $100K Fines Under New DOD Crackdown
The Department of Defense, together with the DOJ, DHS, and FAA, has launched a coordinated crackdown on illegal drone operations under the White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty. Violations in restricted airspace such as airports, military bases,...
4chan Responded to a £520,000 UK Fine with a Hamster in a Godzilla Suit
4chan was hit with a £520,000 fine by UK regulator Ofcom under the Online Safety Act for systematic failures to protect children and remove illegal content. The penalty, split into £450,000 for child‑safety breaches and the remainder for other violations,...
From Hitler to ‘Pinocchio’: Germany’s Speech Laws Collide with Satire
German police opened investigations after historian Rainer Zitelmann reposted a photo of Adolf Hitler wearing a swastika armband, a symbol banned under Germany’s criminal code. Similar probes targeted journalist Jan Fleischhauer for satirically referencing a Nazi slogan and a retiree who...
Author, Publisher Not Blood-Sucking Vampires of Unpublished Material
A Southern District of New York judge ruled that the archetypal "hot, sexy, dangerous boy" common in young‑adult romance cannot be copyrighted. The decision cleared Tracy Wolff of plagiarism accusations brought by Lynne Freeman, who claimed Wolff’s “Crave” series copied...
Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban Is Just Training A Generation In The Art Of The Workaround
Australia’s under‑16 social‑media ban, introduced as a child‑safety measure, has produced only a marginal decline in teen usage according to Qustodio data. Most adolescents who were active on TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat before the law continue to access these platforms,...
IRA Victims Withdraw Civil Case Against Gerry Adams
Victims of IRA bombings have formally withdrawn their civil lawsuit against former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams. The case, which alleged Adams facilitated or failed to prevent IRA attacks, had been pending for several years. The withdrawal follows a confidential settlement...
Judge Ends Delays in 2023‑Started Case
It means the case has dragged on since 2023, and the judge isn’t having any more delays
Too Late to Help: Inventorship Fix Fails to Revive Forfeited Argument
The Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial & Appeal Board, holding that a retroactive correction of inventorship under 35 U.S.C. § 256 does not shield a patent owner from forfeiture doctrines in inter‑partes review. Implicit, LLC added Guy Carpenter as a co‑inventor after losing...
Kansas Passes Bell-to-Bell Cellphone Ban for Schools
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed a bipartisan bill banning all personal electronic devices, including cellphones, tablets, and smartwatches, from the opening bell until the end of the school day. The law, effective this fall, requires K‑12 public and accredited private...
HSR in Turmoil: Back to the Old Form, at Least For Now
The Fifth Circuit on March 19, 2026 denied the FTC’s request to stay a district court order that vacated the agency’s 2025 Hart‑Scott‑Rodino (HSR) filing form. Consequently, the FTC announced it will accept the pre‑2025 form while still permitting use...
Judge Throws Out Sam Altman's Sister's Lawsuit Accusing Him of Sexual Abuse— but Leaves Door Open to Refile
A federal judge dismissed Annie Altman's lawsuit accusing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of childhood sexual abuse, citing the claim was filed beyond the standard statute of limitations. The judge, Zachary Bluestone, granted her a narrow window until April 3 to refile...
Separately Recited Structures Must Be Separately Present in Accused Device
The Federal Circuit affirmed that when a patent claim separately recites structural elements, infringement requires distinct corresponding structures in the accused device. In Magnolia Medical Technologies v. Kurin, the court held that a single porous plug performing both seal and...
German Federal Court of Justice Reinforces Strict Willing Licensee Standard in SEP Litigation
The German Federal Court of Justice (FCJ) affirmed a strict “willing licensee” standard in SEP litigation, rejecting VoiceAge’s FRAND defense and deeming the implementer an unwilling licensee for delayed responses and insufficient security. The court emphasized prompt counter‑offers, constructive engagement,...
AI, Automation, And The Modern Law Firm: How Smart Systems Create Leverage
Sarah Persich, known as “The Automation Lady,” discusses how law firms can leverage AI, video documentation, and system integration to streamline operations and drive growth. She recommends recording process walkthroughs with Loom and using ChatGPT or Claude to instantly create...
Medical Supply Vendor Not a Provider Under Comp Law: Pa. Court
A Pennsylvania appellate court ruled that Scomed Supply, a distributor of durable medical equipment, does not qualify as a “health care provider” under the state Workers’ Compensation Act. The decision upheld the insurer’s refusal to pay additional reimbursement for supplies...
US Senate Seeks Reporting of Weekly Ferts Sales Data
The US Senate introduced the bipartisan Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026, requiring nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer manufacturers and wholesalers to report weekly prices and quantities to the USDA for public disclosure. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar and...
Judge Rejects NFL's Stay Request, Case Moves Forward
The judge overseeing Brian Flores' discrimination lawsuit against the NFL denied the league's motion to stay the part of the case involving the Giants, Texans and Broncos while they appeal to the Supreme Court. she declined to reschedule upcoming deadlines...
California?s Streaming Loudness Law: Time for Ad Tech to Rethink Audio Control
California’s SB 576 now obliges streaming ads to match the perceived volume of surrounding content, shifting compliance responsibility to the platforms that deliver the ads. The rule exposes a split in ad‑tech workflows: client‑side insertion (CSAI) offers little control over audio,...
AI Shockwave to Come in Trade Secret Disputes
Artificial intelligence is reshaping trade secret litigation by threatening the core secrecy requirement and enabling rapid reverse‑engineering of confidential information. Courts will face new challenges proving a trade secret exists when AI prompts and outputs can leak proprietary data. Discovery...
Dish Wireless Wants to Consolidate Deluge of Tower Lawsuits
Dish Wireless is petitioning a Colorado federal court for a stay and consolidation of more than a dozen lawsuits filed by tower owners over unpaid infrastructure fees. The company has moved to centralize seven federal actions and several state cases...
AI Model Giants Should Pay a Levy to Operate in Europe, Says Mistral Boss
Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch is urging Europe to impose a revenue‑based levy on AI model providers that sell services within the bloc. The proposed tax, ranging from one to five percent of European revenues, would be funneled into a central...
Biglaw Executive Order Fight Heads To D.C. Circuit (For Real This Time)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has revived the Justice Department’s appeal defending the Trump‑era executive orders that targeted four major law firms. Oral arguments are set for May 14, 2026, after the court granted the DOJ’s...
New ‘Quirks’ Could Make States’ Privacy Laws Impossible to Follow, Experts Worry
Federal efforts to create a unified data‑privacy framework stalled as the American Privacy Rights Act failed to pass, leaving roughly 20 state laws in force. Experts warn that emerging state‑level quirks—such as Virginia’s notice‑consent model, Maryland’s data‑minimization focus, and New...
Unanimous Court Allows Street Preacher’s Free Speech Case to Move Forward
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously allowed Gabriel Olivier’s Section 1983 lawsuit to proceed, holding that a forward‑looking injunction does not fall under the Heck v. Humphrey bar. Olivier, a Mississippi street preacher, was convicted in 2021 for leaving a city‑designated...
SEC's Crypto Guidance Ends Years of Regulatory Ambiguity But Key Questions Remain
The SEC and CFTC released a joint 68‑page crypto taxonomy, ending years of regulatory uncertainty. The guidance defines when a token sold under an investment contract can shed its security status, but offers no formal process for issuers to obtain...
Insurer Released From Potbelly’s Coverage Claim
A Seattle federal judge ruled that Potbelly Corp cannot invoke its Beazley Execuguard management‑liability policy for a wage‑transparency lawsuit under Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act. The court found the claim did not allege discrimination as defined in the policy,...
Childish Gambino Just Got a Big Win in ‘This Is America’ Lawsuit
A federal appeals court upheld a lower‑court ruling that forces rapper Kidd Wes to pay $286,475 in legal fees after his copyright lawsuit against Childish Gambino’s 2018 hit “This Is America” failed. The court rejected Wes’s claim that Gambino copied...
Oklahoma Insurance Producer Has License Revoked Following Investigation
On March 20, 2026, the Oklahoma Insurance Department revoked the license of Leslie Clark, a Stigler‑based insurance producer, and levied a $2,000 fine after an anti‑fraud investigation uncovered misappropriation of premium payments. Clark failed to appear at a Feb. 11 show‑cause...
CFTC Advances Regulatory Framework for Prediction Markets
On March 12, 2026 the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued a staff advisory clarifying how event contracts may be listed and traded on prediction markets. The agency also released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, indicating plans for a full regulatory framework....