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
When Credit Crumbles: UCC-Driven Remedies for Fund Finance, March 2026 - Defaults and Remedies: The Interaction Between Security Documents and...
The March 2026 article outlines how the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) governs remedies for fund‑finance defaults, detailing the interplay between contractual security agreements and statutory provisions. It defines a default under both contract and UCC lenses, then walks through the suite of UCC remedies—collection on payment intangibles, deposit account offsets, possession, disposition, and strict foreclosure. Non‑waivable UCC duties, such as commercial‑reasonableness and breach‑of‑peace rules, are highlighted, as are the effects of bankruptcy stays on enforcement. Lenders are urged to align contractual terms with UCC mandates to protect collateral value.
DEI Enforcement Update: EEOC Investigations, Title VII Litigation, and Risks for Employers
The EEOC has moved from issuing DEI technical assistance in 2025 to actively enforcing Title VII through investigations and lawsuits in 2026. High‑profile actions against Nike and Coca‑Cola illustrate a focus on identity‑restricted internships, leadership programs, and gender‑specific events. A reminder...
Deadly Export Bill Would Stifle AI Supply Chains
Glad this was killed. It was the worst export bill I’ve ever seen floated in a decade. I was discussing this in DC this week. It would have required every company in the supply chain the get permission to ship...
FMCSA Just Issued a Bulletin Warning Carriers Not to Buy or Sell DOT Numbers – Here Is Why That Warning...
The FMCSA issued an emergency bulletin prohibiting the sale, purchase, or lease of USDOT and MC numbers, labeling such transactions as fraud that will trigger revocation of operating authority. The agency clarified that DOT numbers are permanent, non‑transferable identifiers tied...
The March 30 Deadline Facing California Employers Under SB 294
California’s Workplace Know Your Rights Act (SB 294) imposes a March 30, 2026 deadline for employers to let every current employee designate an emergency contact and opt‑in to notification if arrested or detained. The requirement extends beyond a simple form; it demands updated...
US Withdraws Draft Rule That Called for Global AI Chip Permits
The U.S. Commerce Department withdrew a draft rule that would have required export licenses for all artificial‑intelligence chips worldwide. The proposal, part of a broader effort to tighten semiconductor controls, had been under interagency review by the Office of Management...
One More Thing About Perplexity
Perplexity AI has filed a motion to dismiss the New York Times and Chicago Tribune lawsuits, arguing that its answer engine merely follows user prompts and lacks the volitional conduct required for direct, contributory, or vicarious copyright infringement. The company...
Trump Admin Ordered to Keep Funding Consumer Protection Bureau
A federal judge ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s acting director, Russell Vought, to resume requesting funding from the Federal Reserve, reversing his earlier decision to halt such requests. The ruling found the bureau’s funding shutdown arbitrary and capricious, emphasizing...
Private Markets Go Public: Inside the SEC’s Push for Retail Participation
The SEC, led by Chairman Paul S. Atkins, is actively promoting the "responsible retailization" of private‑market investments, aiming to broaden access for individual investors while installing protective guardrails. At a March 4 roundtable, regulators and industry leaders discussed governance, valuation, liquidity,...
Elon Musk’s Ketamine Use Can’t Be Probed in OpenAI Fraud Trial
Elon Musk’s ketamine use has been ruled inadmissible in the upcoming OpenAI fraud trial, as U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers limits the evidence that can be presented. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit roots and defrauded Musk...
Leave ‘Swinging Dicks’ Out Of Dissents — See Also
Recent legal commentary highlights four distinct developments. A dissent by Judge Van Dyke has drawn criticism for perceived immaturity, prompting calls for higher judicial decorum. The Fourth Circuit affirmed gender‑based discrimination claims, extending protections to adult patients in healthcare decisions....
This Supreme Court Decision Is Bad News for Hollywood’s AI Ambitions
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Stephen Thaler's appeal, leaving lower‑court rulings that AI‑generated artwork lacks human authorship and cannot be copyrighted intact. This decision underscores that Hollywood cannot rely on fully autonomous AI creations to secure copyright protection,...
From Mortgage Worries to Running a 9‑Person Firm
We have 9 people working at the firm. I remember when I didn’t think I could pay my mortgage and looked at job postings for in-house gigs. Crazy.
The IRS’s Verification System for Sharing Taxpayer Data With ICE Would Have Accepted ‘Don’t Care 12345’ as a Valid Address
A federal judge ruled the IRS violated federal law 42,695 times by handing over taxpayer addresses to ICE using a flawed TIN Matching process that only required a zip‑code pattern, not a valid address. Of the 47,289 addresses shared, 90.3%...
Class-Action Lawsuit Filed After the Potomac Sewage Spill
A class‑action lawsuit has been filed against DC Water after a 72‑inch sewer line collapsed, releasing roughly 243 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River in January. The suit, led by Virginia physician Dr. Nicholas Lailas, alleges negligence, citing...
New Jersey Federal Court Says Employer’s Home State Proper Venue for Remote Worker’s Age Discrimination Claims
A federal district court in New Jersey transferred a New Jersey resident’s age‑discrimination and accommodation lawsuit to the Eastern District of North Carolina, where the employer is headquartered. The court held that proper venue hinges on where the discriminatory employment...
Islamic Schools, More Parents Sue Texas over Exclusion From Voucher Program
Three Texas Islamic schools and a coalition of parents have filed a federal lawsuit against Attorney General Ken Paxton and Comptroller Kelly Hancock, alleging that the state’s Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) voucher program unlawfully excludes Islamic schools. The plaintiffs claim...
FTC Advancing Negative Option Rulemaking
On March 26, 2016 the FTC released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to revisit its Negative Option Rule, which presently governs only pre‑notification subscription plans. The agency is soliciting public comment on expanding the rule’s scope to cover...
Daily Bulletin...
President Trump issued executive orders directing the FTC to police false “Made in America” labels and to lower housing costs by easing construction regulations and expanding mortgage access. Federal judges blocked the administration’s attempts to defund the Consumer Financial Protection...
White House Order to Increase Small Bank Mortgage Lending
The White House issued an executive order directing the CFPB and banking regulators to tailor mortgage rules for community banks, aiming to revive small‑bank participation in mortgage lending. The order follows a bipartisan Senate housing bill but highlights the House’s...
EDPB Binding Decisions Can Be Challenged Directly by Organizations Before EU Courts
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in Case C‑97/23 P that organizations may bring an annulment action directly against a binding decision of the European Data Protection Board under Article 263 TFEU. The judgment overturns the previous requirement to...
Senate Passes Housing Bill Without CCCA Amendment
The Senate approved the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on March 12 with an 89‑to‑10 vote, but the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) amendment was stripped from the final text. The CCCA, championed by Senators Roger Marshall and...
Judge Says 'No Evidence' To Justify Federal Reserve Probe
A U.S. district judge blocked the Justice Department's subpoenas seeking Federal Reserve records, ruling there was no evidence to justify the probe. Judge James Boasberg concluded the subpoenas were a pretext to pressure Chair Jerome Powell into lowering interest rates....
The CLE Afterparty: Keeping The Conversation — And Connection — Going
The article outlines post‑CLE strategies that turn a single presentation into an ongoing relationship. It recommends delivering rich takeaways such as whitepapers, slide decks, and recordings, and offering personalized one‑on‑one consultations. It also stresses the importance of regular touchpoints via...
Court Closes Custodia Fight with Federal Reserve Just as Fed Opens Master-Account Door
A federal appeals court rejected Custodia Bank’s final appeal, ending its legal fight over the Federal Reserve’s authority to grant master accounts. The decision arrives as the Fed’s Kansas City branch granted Kraken a limited master‑account‑like facility, marking the first...
Texas Judge Vacates DOL Fiduciary Rule
A Texas federal judge vacated the Biden‑era fiduciary rule after the Department of Labor stopped defending it, ending the legal battle that began with 2024 injunctions. The decision clears the way for the Trump administration to issue a deregulation‑focused replacement....
Agents of Mischief with Scott Shapiro
In this chaotic episode, host Scott Shapiro—joined by a rotating cast of commentators—debates the relevance of UFC-style training for FBI agents, critiques performative masculinity in policy, and dives deep into the emerging world of AI "agents" that can execute tasks...
Board Blocks Union's Bid to Dismiss Complaint by Fired Worker
An Ontario long‑term care personal support worker was fired after a union unit chair reported her alleged threat to “burn this place down.” The Ontario Labour Relations Board refused to dismiss her complaint, finding she has an arguable case that...
AT&T CEO Pitches Trump Amid $23 Billion Antitrust Review
AT&T CEO John Stankey met with President Trump as the Justice Department conducts a $23 billion antitrust review of AT&T’s planned purchase of EchoStar’s spectrum licenses. The meeting was framed as a preview of AT&T’s broader $250 billion commitment to U.S. infrastructure...
How To Avoid Fake Lawyer Scams
A recent column details how scammers impersonate lawyers to sell bogus asset‑recovery services, demanding upfront fees for fictitious taxes and bank charges. The author exposed a case where a fake retainer looked AI‑generated, the website’s domain was registered days before...
States Tax Cars Where They’re Garaged, Not Registered
Let’s talk about the Montana car tax strategy. The idea is simple: Montana has no sales tax. So people form a Montana LLC, buy the car through the LLC, register the car in MT, and—poof—no sales tax. Is it legit? There...
Supreme Court Declares Trump Tariffs Illegal, Refunds Delayed
The Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s reciprocal tariffs were ILLEGAL. Now, the US government is slow walking the refunds Americans are due. Once the government illegally taxes you, it’s hard to get a legal refund. https://t.co/crKDhGMBIe
We Need More Public Defenders. Thousands More.
The Oregon Supreme Court recently dismissed more than 1,400 criminal cases after ruling the state lacked sufficient public defenders to meet constitutional obligations. Across the United States, states such as Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and Kansas face deficits ranging from 30%...
AA Agents Sue for Unpaid Overtime, Federal Law Hinders Claims
American Airlines Agents Sue Over Unpaid Work and “Stolen Time” — But Federal Law May Block Overtime Claims - View from the Wing https://t.co/z4wsjxnClN
NYT Lawyers Say Gov't Filing Highlights Policy's Lack of Standards
Lawyers for the New York Times rebuke the government's latest filing attempting to clarify statements made in court. "The only thing it further clarifies is that the Policy has no workable, meaningful standards," they write. https://t.co/FFGv6NpMSD https://t.co/4rJWhGMdlF
Professionalism Spotlight: Amrith Kaur Aakre, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Amrith Kaur Aakre serves as the Chief Civil Rights Enforcer for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission covering Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Previously she led the Sikh Coalition as National Legal Director and worked as...
Special Counsel Robert Hur Helps Fed Block Pirro Subpoenas
Robert Hur, the special counsel in the Biden classified documents case, has been representing the Federal Reserve's board of governors in its successful effort to quash the Pirro subpoenas
You Can't Stop the Computer
In this episode of Serious Trouble, hosts Josh Barrow and Ken White dissect the Trump administration's struggle to refund illegal IEPA tariffs due to a rigid customs computer system, and the courts' pushback against the administration's attempts to sidestep Senate...
How Lawyers Can Turn High Conflict Into Healthy Conflict
Lawyers routinely encounter high‑conflict situations that trigger stress responses and impede effective advocacy. The article distinguishes high conflict—self‑perpetuating, adversarial, and draining—from healthy conflict, which channels tension into curiosity and constructive outcomes. It draws on Amanda Ripley’s research and Bill Eddy’s...
Judge Says Powell Subpoena Is Harassment Pretext
Is the #Powell probe a pretext to pressure #TheFed chair? Judge quashes subpoena saying #Trump just wants his way. 'There is abundant evidence the dominant (or sole) purpose is to harass+pressure' #interestrates #realestate #CRE #mortgage #POTUS https://t.co/16agP7L9M2
Employee Sues Insurer for FMLA Retaliation After Prayer Mistaken for Sleeping
Cameron Nasser, an investment operations analyst at OneAmerica Financial, filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation after taking FMLA leave to care for his dying mother. Upon returning, his role was downgraded, performance‑improvement plans were issued, and he was ultimately terminated...
CBN Caps New Mobile Banking Transfers at N20,000 for 24 Hours
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will limit transactions on newly activated mobile banking apps to N20,000 during the first 24 hours, effective 1 July 2026. The regulator also mandates single‑device binding, multi‑factor authentication for new device logins, and real‑time fraud‑monitoring systems...
Worker Sues Lockheed Martin over Alleged Racial Slur, Escalating Retaliation
Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky facility in Stratford, Connecticut, faces a federal lawsuit filed by 70‑year‑old quality‑control inspector Carnell Artis, who alleges he was subjected to a racial slur, disability mockery, and ongoing retaliation after reporting the incidents. The complaint details harassment,...
Court Orders Healthcare Employer to Pay $800K+ in Pension Arrears
The U.S. District Court for D.C. granted summary judgment to the Service Employees International Union National Industry Pension Fund, ordering Hamilton Park OPCO to pay more than $800,000 in unpaid pension contributions. The dispute centered on the employer’s failure to make...
Court Tosses Veteran's Discrimination Suit over Supervisor's Damaging Reference
A federal court in Washington, D.C., dismissed veteran attorney Arthur Ayo‑Aghimien II's discrimination lawsuit against his ICE supervisor, Mary‑Jean Lambert, with prejudice on all five counts. The plaintiff alleged that Lambert’s derogatory remarks and a damaging reference caused the rescission of...
Bronx 'Worst Landlord' Ordered To Pay $2.1M Fine In Landmark Ruling
A New York State Supreme Court judge ordered Bronx landlord Seth Miller to pay more than $2.1 million in fines and to complete urgent repairs at his 919 Prospect Ave. building within a strict timeline. The ruling, hailed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani as...
Enforcement Is Down Under Trump. Is that a Problem?
Bank‑level enforcement actions by the FDIC, OCC, Fed and NCUA fell 55% from 116 in 2024 to 52 in 2025, with quarterly new cases dropping from 20 to just two. At the same time, terminated actions more than doubled, reaching...
Musk, Rumble And Others Battle California AG Over Deep Fake Law
Elon Musk's X Corp, conservative platform Rumble, the Babylon Bee and other plaintiffs have asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to keep a lower‑court injunction that blocks California’s Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act (AB 2655). The law, enacted...
‘Monitoring’ During Meal Breaks Did Not Need Compensation, 6th Circuit Says
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a Fair Labor Standards Act claim by a security guard at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital who argued that monitoring his radio during lunch breaks made the time compensable. The...
Fair Use in AI Training Critical for National Security
“ROSS Intelligence Inc. told an appeals court that new filings by Anthropic PBC against the Defense Department confirm that finding fair use in AI training is "paramount" to national security.” 👀