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
Vistry and the FRC: When a “Forecast” Becomes a Personal Career Risk
The Financial Reporting Council has opened an investigation into two former Vistry Group accountants over flawed forecasts in the South Division for 2023‑24, which inflated profit expectations by up to £165 million. The mis‑calculation stemmed from a 10 % under‑estimation of building costs and a static forecasting approach that ignored rising material prices. Vistry’s share price plunged 25.6 % and the 2024 dividend was cancelled as the firm scrambles to restore credibility. The probe shifts regulatory focus from boardroom decisions to the hands‑on work of finance teams.
Valve Posted a Statement on the New York Lootbox Lawsuit
Valve issued a detailed statement responding to the New York Attorney General’s lawsuit alleging its in‑game mystery boxes violate state gambling laws. The company reiterated that loot boxes are purely cosmetic, comparable to physical card packs, and that most players...
MEPs Vote to Change Controversial ‘Chat Scanning’ Measures
The European Parliament voted 458‑103 to extend the EU’s temporary child sexual abuse material (CSAM) rules until 2028, while demanding substantive revisions to the contentious chat‑scanning provisions. The amended text strips proactive‑scanning language, limiting scans to previously identified material or...
ISDA, GFXD, UK Finance, LMA Respond to HMT on UK BMR Reform
On March 11, ISDA, the Global Foreign Exchange Division of GFMAB, UK Finance and the Loan Market Association jointly responded to HM Treasury’s consultation on reforming the UK benchmark regime. They endorse replacing the current UK Benchmark Regulation, which mirrors...
Needs Assessment Surveys for Minnesota EPR Law Underway
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has begun a series of five needs‑assessment surveys to support the state’s Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act, its extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for packaging, food packaging and paper products. The surveys target...
Athletes Flee UK Over Heavy Tax on Prize Money
I'm in the privileged position of having many pro athletes as clients and friends. Many have thrown up their hands and decided to leave the UK. As a professional golfer for instance, £1 million in prize money is treated...
Avelo Airlines Dropped Controversial ICE Flights… Now It’s Being Fined Over Flight Attendant Drug Tests
Avelo Airlines, fresh from ending its controversial ICE deportation contract, has been hit with a proposed $65,000 civil penalty from the FAA for failing to include ten flight attendants in its mandatory drug‑testing pool between April and November 2024. The...
High Court Sides with Kneecap, Ending the Hezbollah Flag Criminal Case Against Mo Chara
The London High Court has dismissed the criminal case against Kneecap rapper Mo Chara (Liam Ó g Ó hAnnaidh), ruling that prosecutors failed to meet the six‑month deadline for issuing a written charge under the Terrorism Act 2000. The judges affirmed a lower‑court...
CVS to Pay $118M to Settle Medicare Advantage Fraud Allegations
CVS Health’s Aetna Medicare Advantage subsidiary agreed to pay $117.7 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that it submitted inaccurate diagnosis codes to boost risk‑adjustment payments. The Department of Justice accused Aetna of running a chart‑review program that added unsupported...
Hand Arendall Harrison Sale Transforms Document Workflows and Sees Immediate ROI with Litera’s AI-Powered Drafting and Compare
Litera announced that Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, an 85‑lawyer southeastern firm, has deployed Litera One across Microsoft 365, iManage and mobile platforms. The AI‑powered drafting and compare solution eliminated document‑comparison friction, resulting in zero user complaints and only one help‑desk call...
Judge Makes First 'Statutory SLAPP' Definition
A federal judge issued the first formal definition of a statutory SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) claim, outlining the elements required to qualify a lawsuit as a SLAPP under state anti‑SLAPP statutes. The ruling clarifies the burden of proof...
Judge Makes First 'Statutory SLAPP' Declaration
A UK High Court judge struck out an £8 million defamation claim by tax barrister Setu Kamal, labeling it the first “statutory SLAPP” under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. The judgment in Kamal v Tax Policy Associates found Kamal’s...
Remember: Los Angeles County Hotel Workers Protection Ordinance Starts April 1, 2026
Los Angeles County’s Hotel Workers Protection Ordinance (HWPO) takes effect on April 1, 2026, with public housekeeping training requirements beginning October 1, 2026. The law mandates panic‑button devices for staff working alone, caps daily room‑cleaning workloads, and limits shifts to...
Critical Mass With Law.com's Amanda Bronstad: Two Talc Trials Take Off Against Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Faces Another Trial Over...
Law.com’s Critical Mass roundup highlights a wave of high‑profile mass‑tort actions. Two Johnson & Johnson talc mesothelioma trials launch in Washington and Florida, while Abbott confronts its fourth federal lawsuit alleging its preterm infant formula causes necrotizing enterocolitis. Paraquat producers...
GenAI: A Slippery Slope Of Too Much Kool-Aid?
At Legalweek 2026, industry leaders debated whether generative AI is reshaping legal education or merely creating a new class of prompt engineers. The article argues that law schools and firms risk prioritizing AI fluency over fundamental legal reasoning. It warns...
ARAG Partners with The Purpose Coalition to Launch National Campaign on Widening Access to Justice
ARAG has teamed with The Purpose Coalition to launch the "Insuring Justice" campaign, positioning legal insurance as a core component of the UK’s social infrastructure. The initiative highlights how early legal protection can prevent disputes from escalating, safeguard financial stability,...
When a Blue Checkmark Becomes a €120 Million Problem
The European Commission fined X €120 million for breaching the Digital Services Act, citing a deceptive blue verification badge, inadequate advertising‑transparency tools, and restricted researcher data access. The DSA classifies platforms with over 45 million EU users as very large online platforms...
Trump Expands Ban On Foreigners Receiving Small Business Loans
The Trump administration announced that the Small Business Administration will prohibit foreign nationals from accessing any federal small‑business loan program, expanding a ban that previously covered only core loans. The new rule adds the Surety Bond program and the Microloan...
Midtown Office Landlord Charles Cohen Gets Deadline to Repay $135M Debt or Face Forced Property Sales
Charles Cohen, a Midtown office landlord, was given a 45‑day deadline by a New York state Supreme Court judge to repay $135 million in outstanding debt or face forced sales of his properties. A Fortress Investment Group executive, David Moson, was...
Ohio Judge Rules Kalshi Prediction Markets Are Gambling
An Ohio federal judge ruled that Kalshi’s sports prediction markets qualify as gambling and must follow state regulations, rejecting the company’s claim that its contracts are federally regulated financial swaps. The decision backed Ohio regulators seeking to block Kalshi from...
Energy Dept., NASA Take Steps to Oust Their Unions
On Tuesday the Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA announced steps to terminate existing collective bargaining agreements, invoking President Trump’s Executive Order 14251 that cites national security concerns. DOE issued immediate termination notices to three major federal unions, while NASA...
Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act Targets DEF Issues for Farmers
The U.S. Senate is reviewing the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act, which would direct the EPA to modify regulations so diesel engines in agricultural equipment are not forced into automatic shutdown or derate mode due to diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)...
Marshall Women’s Swim & Dive Team Members File Title IX Lawsuit Over Cut Program
Fifteen members of Marshall University’s women’s swim and dive team have filed a class‑action lawsuit alleging Title IX violations after the school announced the program’s elimination at the end of the 2025‑26 season. The university cites an $819,000 annual budget, inadequate...
Meet Eve — The AI Used By 800+ Top Plaintiff Firms
Eve, an AI platform tailored for plaintiff litigation, is now deployed by more than 800 firms nationwide. Its intake agent, Jenny, has lifted lead conversion rates from roughly 10% to 35% while shaving 50 minutes off the intake workflow and...
Federal Court Lets NYC Congestion Pricing Continue
A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation acted arbitrarily in trying to rescind approval for New York City’s congestion pricing program, allowing the toll system to remain in force. The decision keeps peak‑hour truck tolls at...
Case Strategy Software Guide
Litigation teams face mounting pressure from exploding data volumes, tighter deadlines, and heightened client expectations. Traditional case management tools, which only organize data, are increasingly inadequate for modern demands. A new category of AI-enabled case strategy software is emerging to...
Jon Jones After Left Off White House Event: “I Respectfully Ask to Be Released From My Contract”
A public dispute erupted between UFC and MMA legend Jon Jones after the promotion announced a June 14 White House event without including the former champion. UFC officials insisted Jones was never considered for the fight, citing his hip arthritis, while...
The MLC and Pandora Clash in Opposition Briefs as Mechanical Royalties Battle Nears Decisive Stage
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and Pandora Media have each filed opposition briefs in their ongoing lawsuit over whether Pandora’s ad‑supported “Pandora Free” service should be treated as an interactive service subject to mechanical royalties. The MLC argues that three...
I&B Ministry Directs Telegram to Remove 3,142 Channels for Distributing Pirated Content
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has instructed Telegram to remove 3,142 channels accused of distributing pirated movies, series, and other copyrighted content. The directive, issued under the Information Technology Act 2000, follows complaints from major OTT services including JioStar...
AFM & DNB Update on Simplified Fine Procedure
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) have refreshed their Simplified Fine Procedure, a tool first introduced by the AFM four years ago to speed up fine settlements. Supervisors may offer an abbreviated...
Connecticut Bill Constraining Use of License Plate Data Gets Broad Support
Connecticut House Bill 5449, backed by immigration advocates and civil‑rights groups, would restrict automatic license‑plate reader (ALPR) data by limiting retention to seven days and banning its use for immigration enforcement, abortion‑related, or transgender‑care investigations. The legislation also confines data...
Smooth Criminal? Michael Jackson Estate Civil War Sees Paris Jackson Rip Executors Over “Self-Interested Gifts” & Big Unauthorized Payouts
Paris Jackson has filed a lawsuit against Michael Jackson estate co‑executors John Branca and John McClain, alleging $600,000 in unauthorized bonuses, premium payments, and personal gifts that violate probate rules. The filing, submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, precedes...
Judge to Decide if Penn Must Produce Records in Probe of Antisemitism at Ivy League School
A federal judge will decide whether the University of Pennsylvania must comply with an EEOC subpoena demanding detailed records on employees' Jewish affiliations. The EEOC is probing claims that antisemitic incidents have created a hostile work environment for faculty and...
Tesla Cybertruck With Autopilot Engaged Tries To Drive Off An Overpass In Freaky Video
A Houston driver sued Tesla after her Cybertruck, operating with Autopilot engaged, missed a curve on an overpass and collided with a concrete barrier, sustaining severe neck, back and shoulder injuries. The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million, accusing Tesla of...
The Week in Data March 11: A Look at Legal Industry Trends by the Numbers
The latest Law.com data roundup highlights a sharp rise in judicial misconduct complaints, reaching 1,603 allegations—a 400‑case increase from 2024. Litigants accounted for 79% of these filings, with prison inmates contributing 16%. Simultaneously, several high‑profile judges have resigned amid ethics...
Published in OJ – Commission Implementing Regulation Amending ITS on MREL Reporting by Resolution Authorities
On 11 March 2026 the EU published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/519, amending the technical standards of Regulation 2021/622 that govern MREL reporting. The amendment revises the frequency and content of data that resolution authorities must transmit to the European...
Florida Advances Bill to Bypass Local Zoning, Allow Residential Development on Brownfields
Florida’s legislature passed the Infill Redevelopment Act, mandating that counties with over 1.475 million residents permit residential development on 5‑acre parcels, including contaminated brownfields, adjacent to existing housing. The bill caps density at the lower of the local average or 25...
Anthropic’s Pentagon Showdown Is Drawing Silicon Valley Into a Larger Fight
Anthropic has sued the Pentagon after the Department of Defense labeled the company a "supply chain risk," effectively blacklisting it from government contracts. A coalition of 37 leading AI researchers, including figures from Google, OpenAI and DeepMind, filed an amicus...
South Korea Imposes Multi-Million Fine on Mercedes-Benz
South Korea's competition authority fined Mercedes‑Benz the equivalent of €6.5 million for misleading battery‑supplier claims on its EQE and EQS electric models. The regulator found that while dealers were told all vehicles used CATL cells, several variants actually employed Farasis Energy...
US Justice Department Digs Into Iran's Sanctions Evasion via Binance
The U.S. Justice Department has opened a probe into Binance’s alleged facilitation of Iran’s sanctions evasion, focusing on crypto transfers that may have funded IRGC‑linked terrorist groups. The investigation follows a Treasury‑appointed monitor’s request for detailed transaction data and a...
If the Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act Passes, What Does that Mean for Florida Employers?
The Florida House has reintroduced the Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act (HB 641), which would prohibit public employers, nonprofits and state‑funded private firms from providing nonbinary gender options, requiring correct pronoun usage, or mandating LGBTQ‑related training. The bill also...
Wednesday: What’s Hot on CanLII? – February 2026
CanLII’s February 2026 roundup highlighted three English and three French decisions that dominated legal research. The Supreme Court’s *R. v. Fox* affirmed a lawyer’s right to invoke the “innocence at stake” exception to solicitor‑client privilege and excluded Charter‑breached evidence under...
How to Defend Privacy Against Government Overreach
What does it take to stare down the government—and win? 🔐⚖️ Cindy Cohn joins Remarkable People to unpack encryption, metadata, Section 230, and the constitutional battles shaping your digital life. We also talk about her powerful new memoir, Privacy’s Defender. @efforg
Barnes Sues Pentagon over Retaliatory Press Credential Policy
Appreciate the reporting here by Barnes. Worth noting he’s also the plaintiff in the important lawsuit against the Pentagon over its new press policy that creates an opening for the Pentagon to revoke his credentials in retaliation over his...
EU Unveils Stronger Consumer Protections for Holidaymakers Ahead of Summer
The European Union is set to adopt a revised Package Travel Directive that strengthens consumer safeguards for holidaymakers. The new rules grant penalty‑free cancellations for extraordinary events, require tour operators to maintain insolvency protection, and guarantee cash refunds within 14...
Warren’s Office Controls Investor Ban Language, Fixes Stalled
The language around the investor ban has been crafted and controlled by Senator Warren's office. Lots of groups on all sides of this issue and from both sides of aisle have pushed for common sense fixes, but with no luck...
Schatz Calls 7‑Year Sale Clause Drafting Error, Bill Closed
WOAH Senator Brian Schatz says the provision that forces future build-to-rent development to be sold after 7 years is a "drafting error" But he added that: "But what we were told last week is: The bill is closed." via @Eleanor_Mueller
California Fines SFPD in Death of Police Recruit During Training
California’s occupational safety agency, Cal/OSHA, issued a $40,500 citation to the San Francisco Police Department for serious safety violations tied to the death of recruit Jon‑Marques Psalms during a high‑intensity training exercise. The agency found the department did not properly...
Tenn. Judge Orders Specialist Panel in Knee Replacement Dispute
A Tennessee workers‑compensation judge ordered Swift Transportation to provide a panel of joint‑reconstruction orthopedic surgeons for truck driver Stephen Jablonski, who suffered a knee injury and subsequent arthritis. The employer had offered a generic orthopedic panel, including a surgeon who...
Google Earns 4× YouTube’s Ad Revenue, Still Monopolist
And Google generates 4x as much ad revenue as YouTube. And guess what? Google owns YouTube and provides most user data "signal" and discovery that has boosted it. And Google is a 'recidivist monopolist' according to DOJ + 4 federal...