Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Joe Biden has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio recording of his interview. The action, reported by Axios and TIME, aims to keep the interview confidential amid political controversy.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
Courts of King's Bench in Alberta, Manitoba Welcome Johal, Neville, Woolley to the Bench
Canada’s Courts of King’s Bench announced three new judicial appointments in March 2026. In Alberta, Crown prosecutor Parminder K. Johal was appointed to the Edmonton bench, while Manitoba named former executive legal officer Elissa A.B. Neville and seasoned litigation partner Jonathan M. Woolley to the Winnipeg bench. Each replaces a judge who transitioned to supernumerary status, bringing experience in criminal prosecution, Indigenous law, and construction dispute resolution respectively. The cohort reflects a broader trend toward diversifying judicial expertise across provincial courts.
Kalshi Faces Criminal Charges, Not Civil Lawsuits, in Arizona
How Kalshi’s Criminal Charges in Arizona Differ From Its Civil Cases https://t.co/921dNDmU3M via @sportico @McCannSportsLaw
GTA Submission Calls for New Approach to DAFF Cost Recovery
Grain Trade Australia (GTA) has submitted a formal objection to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) new export cost‑recovery program, arguing that the scheme over‑recovers fees and lacks industry consultation. DAFF’s Cost Recovery Implementation Statements (CRIS) will...
Dog Owners to Face Unlimited Fines if Their Pets Attack Livestock Under New Law
Dog owners in England and Wales now face unlimited fines and possible seizure of their pets after new legislation updates the 70‑year‑old livestock worrying law. Police can take DNA samples, enter premises and prosecute attacks even on public paths. The...
Contingent Workforce Misclassification Poses Ongoing Prosecution Risks
Employers face heightened prosecution risk over contingent worker misclassification as regulators intensify enforcement. Recent 2024 Closing Loopholes amendments overturn the previous reliance on written contracts, reverting to a substantive, multifactor test rooted in 2022 High Court rulings. The shift reintroduces...
Gilded Age Townhouse Sells for $34.5 Million in NYC, Ending 2 Sisters' Heated Bankruptcy Battle
A Manhattan Gilded Age townhouse sold for $34.5 million to an anonymous LLC, ending a six‑year bankruptcy battle between fashion‑heiress sisters Marianne and Peggy Nestor. The 1901 property, owned jointly since 1984, carried over $30 million in mortgages and liens, leaving net...
Nebraska US Senate Candidate Sues After Being Taken Off the Ballot
Democratic candidate Cindy Burbank filed a lawsuit after Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen removed her from the U.S. Senate primary ballot. Burbank argues the removal, based on her alleged support for independent Dan Osborn, violates her First Amendment rights....
South Dakota Governor Signs Anti-SLAPP Legislation
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 137, making the state the 40th to adopt anti‑SLAPP legislation. The law lets defendants request dismissal of meritless suits within sixty days, aiming to shield public participants from costly legal intimidation. The...
Judge Orders 1,000 VOA Employees Back, Rebuking Kari Lake
In rebuke to @KariLake, US judge orders 1,000 Voice of America staffers back to work My story for NPR: https://t.co/NGgPfXNWOu
Justice Department Says Anthropic Can’t Be Trusted With Warfighting Systems
The U.S. Department of Justice defended the Pentagon’s decision to label AI developer Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, effectively barring its Claude models from warfighting systems. Anthropic sued, claiming the designation violates its First Amendment rights and threatens billions in expected...
Judge Orders Voice of America to Restart All News Operations
A U.S. District Court judge ordered more than 1,000 full‑time Voice of America journalists and support staff to resume work by March 23, overturning the Trump administration’s effort to shut down the broadcaster. The ruling excludes contracted employees and reaffirms Congress’s...
AI Chatbots Face Surge of Diverse Liability Lawsuits
"Over the past year we’ve seen a wave of high-profile lawsuits against AI companies blaming chatbots for everything from bad driving to delusions of grandeur to a man’s death after he tripped and fell in a parking lot." https://t.co/zj97A2rj08
Scrutinize Contracts: Spot Hidden Fees and Cede Authority
When reviewing software and service contracts, dive deep into the fine print. Understand what you're agreeing to and watch for unspoken clauses like future cost increases, ceded decision-making authority, and vendor power. Negotiate these terms. #ContractTips #VendorManagement https://t.co/Cenwm4rYl6
Top 3 Indemnification Drafting Lessons From a General Counsel
General counsel outlines three critical indemnification drafting lessons. First, indemnity must be tied to specific contractual breaches rather than act as blanket insurance. Second, it should be limited to third‑party claims and drafted in sync with the limitation of liability...
Kanye West Challenges $150,000 Jury Award at Malibu Mansion Trial: ‘Cannot Stand’
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is challenging a $150,000 jury award granted to former handyman Tony Saxon after a two‑week Los Angeles trial over the renovation of Ye's $57 million Malibu mansion. Saxon claimed severe back injuries and unpaid wages,...
AI Copyright Suits Near 100 as Chicken Soup Sues Anthropic
Chicken soup for the soul (which is apparently still around)! is suing Anthropic for pirating copies of the book to train Claude. The number of AI copyright lawsuits is inching closer to 100 https://t.co/P64o1LYes6
Ad for AI Editing App Which Said It Could 'Remove Anything' Banned
A UK advertising regulator banned a YouTube ad for PixVideo’s AI video‑maker after it appeared to show a woman’s clothing being digitally removed. The ad’s "Erase anything" claim led eight complaints that it sexualised and objectified women, prompting the ASA...
NCSoft Pursues Legal Action, Including Provisional Attachment of Accounts, Against Operators of Illegal Lineage Private Servers
South Korean game developer NCSoft has secured a provisional attachment of bank accounts belonging to operators of four illegal Lineage private servers. The Seoul Central District Court approved the freeze after NCSoft demonstrated substantiated damages and the need to preserve...
New SBA Citizenship Mandates Auger a Major Shift for U.S. Small Businesses
Effective March 1, 2026, the Small Business Administration tightened its 7(a) and 504 loan eligibility, requiring 100% U.S. citizenship and domestic residence for all owners. The rule eliminates the brief 5% foreign‑ownership exception and bars legal permanent residents from any...
Lawsuit Accusing Elon Musk of Tanking Twitter Share Price Goes to Jury
A federal class‑action suit alleges Elon Musk deliberately depressed Twitter’s share price in 2022 by tweeting about inflated bot numbers, prompting an 18% drop and an $8 million loss for investors. The case, now before a San Francisco jury, centers on Musk’s...
Vietnam: Cybersecurity Enforcement Plan Enhances Digital Security
Vietnam's Prime Minister issued an action plan to enforce the country's Cybersecurity Law, outlining tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities for ministries and local authorities. The plan mandates a nationwide awareness campaign, specialized training for officials, and the creation of detailed guiding...
Live From LegalWeek - The 500th Show Spectacular
In the 500th episode of Legal Speak, recorded live from Law.com’s Legal Week in New York, hosts Cedra Mayfield and Patrick Smith celebrate the milestone with reflections on the show's evolution and a deep dive into the recent ALM‑LBR merger....
Termination, Bonuses and Shares: Tightening Plan Language to Reduce Legal Risk
An Alberta Court of King’s Bench ruling in McElgunn v. Vermilion Energy highlighted that ambiguous termination language in bonus and long‑term incentive plans can be read against employers, allowing a dismissed executive to retain her share award. Partner Adrian Elmslie...
Federal Judge Likely to Block ‘Brazen’ White House Ballroom Construction
A federal judge is poised to block President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project after the Justice Department presented shifting legal arguments. Judge Richard Leon criticized the administration’s claim that the demolition and new construction constitute a simple "alteration"...
U.S. Customs Tightens Importer of Record Rules
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that, effective March 20, 2026, it will begin canceling Importer of Record (IOR) numbers for declarations submitted after 12:01 a.m. ET. Importers must now provide an updated CBP 5106 form, government‑issued photo ID, EIN verification...
Newsom Sues Fox for $1 B, Frames It as Democracy Defense
Gavin Newsom is projecting again. Newsom is in court right now invoking the power of the state to force a news outlet (Fox News) to pay him nearly $1 Billion for not “truthfully informing the public,” according to Newsom’s complaint,...
LPFM Agrees That It Violated Underwriting Rules
The FCC concluded that Charlottesville’s low‑power FM station WXRK(LP) violated underwriting announcement rules but avoided a monetary fine by agreeing to a compliance plan. This decision resolves the fifth case stemming from a Virginia LPFM “coop” that shared facilities and...
Apple Can Delist Apps "with or without Cause," Judge Says in Loss for Musi App
Federal judge ruled Apple can delist apps with or without cause, dismissing Musi's lawsuit. The court held the Developer Program License Agreement gives Apple unrestricted removal rights, and Musi's claims lacked factual support. Musi's lawyers were sanctioned for filing baseless...
Biglaw’s AI Reckoning May Be Coming For Lawyer Headcount
Biglaw firms are reassessing staffing models as artificial intelligence reshapes legal work. Unnamed partners report hiring freezes and deliberate reductions in junior associate and support roles. The shift reflects AI’s ability to automate high‑leverage tasks, prompting firms to consider smaller...
Appeals Court Questions Timeliness of Fraud Class Action over Mormon Church Tithes
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a class‑action fraud suit that accuses the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints of misusing tithes for commercial projects such as the City Creek Center. Plaintiffs argue they lacked constructive...
Ex-Wells Fargo Broker Wins Bid to Overturn $2.2 Million Arbitration Award
New York Supreme Court Judge Verna L. Saunders vacated a $2.2 million arbitration award against former Wells Fargo Advisors broker Marc Torres, citing undisclosed liens and judgments held by arbitrator Alfreida B. Kenny that suggested bias. The ruling mandates a new...
Galapagos Receives Transparency Notification From Bank of America
Galapagos NV disclosed that Bank of America Corp. received a transparency notification under Belgian law after its stake fell below the 5% threshold on March 10, 2026. The bank’s combined voting rights and equivalent financial instruments now represent 3.91% of...
Ninth Circuit Dismisses Arizona Vote Dilution Claims
The Ninth Circuit dismissed a lawsuit alleging Arizona’s voter rolls contain up to 1.2 million ineligible voters who could dilute Republican votes. The panel held that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a concrete, imminent injury, describing their claims as speculative and...
Disney Executive Alleges HR Combed His Private Coaching Sessions for ‘Dirt’
Disney’s executive vice‑president of games sued the company, alleging that a senior HR leader secretly contacted his confidential executive coach to gather personal details. He claims HR berated him as a poor cultural fit, and after filing an internal complaint...
Trademarking Talent: A Novel Strategy for Protecting Voice and Likeness Against Unauthorized AI Use
Actor Matthew McConaughey has obtained eight federal trademark registrations covering his voice and iconic catchphrases, pioneering a legal tactic to curb unauthorized AI reproductions. The filings transform personal attributes into protectable assets, offering a new enforcement tool while Congress lags...
Appeals Court Upholds Rebecca Grossman’s Murder Conviction
A California Court of Appeal upheld Rebecca Grossman’s second‑degree murder conviction for killing two boys while driving at 73 mph under the influence. The three‑judge panel rejected her defense that the jury should have considered manslaughter, emphasizing that her conduct demonstrated...
The Supreme Court Just Heeded One of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Sharpest Dissents
The Supreme Court halted the Trump administration’s attempt to instantly revoke Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian nationals, keeping protection for over 350,000 immigrants while the case moves to the merits docket. The shift follows Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s pointed dissent...
SEC Splits Crypto Into Five Distinct Regulatory Categories
wowww the SEC just classified crypto assets into: DIGITAL COMMODITIES DIGITAL COLLECTIBLES DIGITAL TOOLS STABLECOINS DIGITAL SECURITIES. and explained what each category means. SEC digital commodities include: Aptos (APT); Avalanche (AVAX); Bitcoin (BTC); Bitcoin Cash (BCH); Cardano (ADA); Chainlink (LINK); Dogecoin (DOGE); Ether (ETH); Hedera (HBAR); Litecoin...
Commission Guidance Beats Staff Letters in Enforceability
🧵This is #sec #cftc commission-level guidance, not staff-level, which makes it more enforceable than the statements and no-action letters the Crypto Task Force has been issuing since January. That is meaningful distinction. Staff guidance can be withdrawn or walked back...
Teachers Urge 10th Circuit to Lift Oklahoma Ban on ‘Divisive’ Lessons
Oklahoma's House Bill 1775 bans teachers from incorporating eight "divisive" concepts—such as race and sex superiority—into any course. The ACLU argues the statute is unconstitutionally vague, chilling free‑speech and effective instruction, while the state contends it merely forbids endorsement of...
California VC Diversity Reporting Rule Temporarily Paused
wait, so that weird CA rule where every VC has to ask their portfolio about diversity stats and submit by April 1st is now on pause? https://t.co/gLKVEsa0wY
SEC Says Most Crypto Assets Aren't Securities, Signaling Shift
SEC just issued critical guidance on how various crypto assets will be classified… Not waiting on CLARITY Act. “Most crypto assets are not themselves securities.” This type of pro-crypto innovation stance from SEC would have been *unthinkable* 2yrs ago. https://t.co/BmU9qfnwQE
BC Tribunal Dismisses Complaint Linking COVID Conspiracy Video to Racial Bias
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal dismissed a complaint by the former executive director of the Northern BC Graduate Students’ Society, finding no reasonable prospect of proving race, ancestry, or mental disability motivated any adverse treatment. The director had resigned...
Freehold Lobby Recycles Debunked Claims; Media Still Gullible
The freehold empire has quietly struck back in the battle over leasehold reform with a report, pushing the same old arguments that have been debunked over and over again. Sadly, mainstream media are still eating it, hook, line and sinker...
Example of a Proper Use of GenAI
The 11th Circuit in Edwards v. Grubbs (2026) accepted a generative‑AI diagram illustrating a 30‑40° embankment and a 24‑foot drop as part of the record. The AI‑created exhibit helped the court visualize the scene where Officer Grubbs tasered a fleeing, unarmed...
Pam Bondi’s DOJ Lowers Hiring Standards After Driving Away Lawyers With Actual Experience
The Justice Department announced it will suspend the longstanding one‑year attorney experience requirement for U.S. attorney hiring. The memo, effective until Feb 28 2027, allows districts to recruit recent law graduates to fill vacancies created by a wave of resignations under Attorney...
House Bill Would Exempt Health Care Workers From $100,000 H-1B Visa Filing Fee
On March 17, 2026, House members introduced the bipartisan Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, which would waive the $100,000 H‑1B filing fee imposed on foreign‑trained health‑care workers by a 2025 presidential proclamation. The legislation also bars any new H‑1B...
Class Action Accuses Danaher of Turning DEI Into Hiring Quotas
A class‑action lawsuit filed in March alleges Danaher Corporation turned its DEI hiring program into a quota system, requiring 50% of interview slates to be women or people of color. The complaint says the centralized talent‑acquisition team delayed or escalated...
SEC Clarifies the Application of Federal Securities Laws to Crypto Assets
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued a joint interpretation that clarifies how federal securities laws apply to crypto assets. The guidance introduces a taxonomy covering digital commodities, collectibles, tools, stablecoins and digital securities,...
Lawsuit Filed over 2024 Iowa Fertilizer Spill
A conservation group sued NEW Cooperative over a 2024 fertilizer spill in Red Oak, Iowa, where 1,500 tons (about 265,000 gallons) of liquid nitrogen fertilizer leaked from an above‑ground tank. The discharge killed more than 750,000 fish along a 50‑mile...