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
Class Action Champion Merricks Pulls Out of Rail Fares Case
Former chief financial ombudsman Walter Merricks withdrew as class representative in the Govia Thameslink rail‑fare case after failing to secure after‑the‑event (ATE) insurance. The claim, certified by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in 2021, alleges unfair pricing on the London‑to‑Brighton line and is one of only 14 competition collective actions certified so far. A CAT‑ordered hearing on 15 April will assess funding, insurance and a possible replacement representative. Without a new rep, the certified case could lapse, ending the collective redress effort.
Mediacom in D.C.
Mediacom, representing ACA Connects members, petitioned the FCC to revise legacy rules that obligate cable operators to keep detailed signal‑leakage logs and make subscriber records available for inspection. The company argues that in today’s all‑digital networks, signal leakage incidents have...
British Columbia Chief Coroner Orders Inquest Into Tumbler Ridge Mass Shooting
British Columbia’s chief coroner has launched a formal inquest into the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting that claimed nine lives. The inquiry will scrutinize systemic and procedural failures, including how the shooter’s use of two ChatGPT accounts—one banned but not reported...
SEC Dismisses All Claims; Builder Vows Continued Crypto Innovation
I am very pleased to confirm that the SEC has moved to dismiss all claims against me, Tron Foundation, and BitTorrent Foundation. Today’s resolution brings closure, but I never stopped building. I will continue to focus on accelerating innovation in the...
PBM Reforms May Open a New Era for Group Health Plan Sponsors
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (CAA 2026) introduces sweeping federal regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for employer‑sponsored group health plans. It mandates full 100 percent rebate pass‑through and detailed compensation disclosure, with semi‑annual reporting requirements taking effect for calendar‑year plans...
Syrian Nationals Urge Supreme Court to Keep Ruling in Place Allowing Them to Stay in the United States
Syrian nationals filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to keep a New York federal judge's order that blocks the Trump administration's attempt to terminate their Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The petition argues the government has not demonstrated irreparable harm,...
Court Blocks Florida Gov. DeSantis's Executive Order Designating CAIR as Terrorist Organization
A federal judge in Jacksonville blocked Governor Ron DeSantis’s December 2025 executive order that labeled the Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) a terrorist organization and barred it from state contracts. The court held that the governor lacks authority to make...
IT Vendor Payments Under Investigation at North Kansas City Schools
North Kansas City School District uncovered $630,000 in payments to an IT vendor that may have been for fictitious consulting services. The payments, $9,000 per month from fiscal 2020 through 2025, were approved by an employee who failed to disclose...
Experts Warn Age‑verification Laws Create Global Surveillance Network
371 security/ privacy academics, including a Turing Award winner, just issued a letter saying age verification laws are building global surveillance infrastructure. Every search, message, and article read would require ID verification. Democrats are working w/ Republicans to push these laws...
Courts Signal Path for Manufacturers to Reap Billions in IEEPA Tariff Refunds
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that all importers of record subject to IEEPA duties are eligible for refunds after the Supreme Court struck down those tariffs. Courts have ordered Customs to begin issuing refunds, and more than 900...
SEC, Justin Sun Reach Settlement over Tron Lawsuit
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reached a settlement with Rainberry Inc., the company behind the Tron network, imposing a $10 million civil penalty and a ban on future securities violations. All remaining claims against Justin Sun, the Tron Foundation, and...
US Reportedly Considering Sweeping New Chip Export Controls
U.S. Commerce Department is drafting rules that would require government approval for any export of AI‑focused semiconductors such as those made by AMD and Nvidia. The proposal differentiates review intensity based on order size, with small shipments getting a basic...
Govt Officials Convicted for $134M No‑Bid Contract Fraud
Who wants some mid-day Receipts snack? Here are three high profile examples of government employees who funneled no-bid contracts in obvious violations of many laws related to government contracts fraud who were ultimately investigated, indicted, tried, convicted and sentenced. Tick Tock: Kristi,...
Interview with Judge Lawrence VanDyke at the University of Florida
Judge Lawrence VanDyke sat down with the University of Florida Federalist Society during the Originalism Conference to discuss his personal journey and judicial philosophy. He explained why his approach on the Ninth Circuit often diverges from his colleagues, emphasizing a...
Justin Smith, Everlaw: What Is ESI? A Practical Guide for Legal Teams
The article explains that modern litigation now begins with massive streams of digital data rather than physical documents. It defines electronically stored information (ESI) as any digital content—emails, chats, cloud files, and metadata—generated and used in today’s workplaces. As data...
Exterro: The Foundation of Decision Confidence: A Process-First Approach to Information Governance
Exterro argues that modern enterprises face relentless litigation and regulatory demands, yet many still reactively manage eDiscovery. The firm contends that treating information governance as a back‑office task undermines efficiency and outcomes. By adopting a process‑first approach—embedding disciplined, intelligence‑driven steps...
Reveal: What Is the Purpose of Data Normalization in eDiscovery?
Data normalization transforms disparate electronic records into a uniform format, enabling legal teams to search, filter, and review evidence more accurately during eDiscovery. By eliminating inconsistencies in file types, metadata, and structure, it improves search precision, reduces review costs, and...
A ‘Complex’ Chapter 11 Case for Cumulus Arises In Houston
Cumulus Media, the third‑largest U.S. radio broadcaster, filed a voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization in Houston on March 5, 2026. Judge Alfredo Perez has been assigned to oversee the case, which the company labels as "complex" due to multiple subsidiary filings. Co‑counsel from...
FDA Issues RFI on In-Home Opioid Disposal Products
The FDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) on March 5, 2026, asking for public input about new standards for in‑home opioid disposal products. The agency is evaluating whether opioid manufacturers should be required to supply disposal systems directly through dispensers....
Lyric Menges & Brian J. McGinnis: The Metadata Trap: Why Data Privacy Matters When Lawyers Use AI
Lawyers traditionally protect the content of communications, but the surrounding metadata—who, when, where, and how messages are exchanged—offers a far richer behavioral map. Recent advances in AI turn this metadata into powerful pattern‑recognition engines, exposing intimate client details without ever...
Ella Sherman: Small to Midsize Law Firms Not Feeling the AI Adoption Squeeze
Pressure to invest in generative AI is rising across industries, yet a 2026 8am Legal Industry Report finds many law firms feel little urgency. The survey of 1,395 lawyers, paralegals and staff shows 39% of respondents say their firm isn’t...
Universal Migrator Releases Scripts That Migrate Docuware, Legal Server, And Alfresco To Imanage, Sharepoint, And Netdocuments
Universal Migrator announced new migration scripts that enable legal‑technology consultants to move data from DocuWare, Legal Server, and Alfresco into leading document‑management platforms such as iManage, Microsoft SharePoint, and NetDocuments. The addition brings the platform’s script library to support more...
Festus Lagat Files Emergency CAS Appeal; Lawyer: “ADAK Is on a Campaign to Ruin the Lives of Many Athletes”
American‑based Kenyan middle‑distance runner Festus Laget has lodged an emergency appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a provisional suspension imposed by the Anti‑Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) for alleged whereabouts failures. The suspension threatens his participation...
Beef Prices Spur Senate Drive to Split Meat Giants
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation that would require meatpackers to process only a single type of protein and impose tighter limits on beef market concentration. The bill also restores FTC antitrust authority over meatpacking and targets foreign‑owned firms...
Sport Law CPD Announcement - 1st Session March 26th at Noon EST
Veteran Canadian sport‑law attorney launches a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) series, with the inaugural virtual session on March 26 from noon to 1:30 p.m. EST. The first class targets lawyers and law students with little or no exposure to amateur‑sport...
Hey AI, What Are Lawyers Still Good For?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly mastering tasks traditionally performed by lawyers, from contract drafting to legal research, prompting a crisis of relevance for the profession. The article argues that while AI can deliver cheap, efficient legal assistance, human attorneys still hold...
Turn Critics Into Champions During Change
Brendan Miller’s blog examines how law firms can convert vocal skeptics of new technology into enthusiastic adopters. He illustrates typical resistance: a team member fearing diminished relevance and a senior partner doubting an AI research assistant’s accuracy. Miller outlines practical...
States Struggle to Get a Grip on Growth of Prediction Markets
Prediction‑market trading is booming, with 2025 activity surpassing $44 billion and state officials racing to regulate the sector. The CFTC, under Michael Selig, argues federal jurisdiction, while dozens of states file lawsuits claiming gambling violations. Florida’s bond finance chief Ben Watkins...
New AI Education Programs Abound as Legal Strives for Tech Literacy
A wave of new education initiatives is targeting legal professionals to boost generative AI literacy. Law schools, bar associations, and corporate training programs are rolling out curricula that cover AI opportunities, ethical considerations, and regulatory risks. Partnerships with technology firms...
CDER Data Standards Program
The FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) launched its Data Standards Program in 2010 to streamline the massive influx of drug submissions—over 300,000 annually—by enforcing electronic data formats. The initiative aligns with PDUFA commitments, mandating standards such as...
HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Investigation of MMG Fusion, LLC Breach Affecting 15 Million Individuals
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights settled a HIPAA investigation with Maryland‑based software firm MMG Fusion, LLC. The settlement stems from a December 2020 cyber‑attack that exposed protected health information of roughly 15 million individuals...
Fund the Trust, or Probate Defeats It
My biggest estate planning tip when it comes to trusts? Fund the trust. So someone can pay thousands of dollars to draft a beautiful trust document and still end up with a full probate estate. Creating a trust is only half...
IRS Proposes Rules for Electronic 1099-A Statements
The IRS and Treasury have issued proposed regulations allowing cryptocurrency brokers to deliver the new Form 1099‑DA electronically starting Jan. 1, 2027. Brokers would need customer consent and must meet enhanced electronic notice and access requirements, but they would no longer have to...
LawNext on Location: At A Sonoma Winery, A Conversation with Briefpoint CEO Nathan Walter About Discovery, Disruption and, Of Course,...
In this LawNext on Location episode, host Bob Ambrogi chats with Nathan Walter, co‑founder and CEO of BriefPoint, while sipping wine at Paradise Ridge Winery in Sonoma. Walter recounts his unconventional path from philosophy student to public defender, to civil...
Avoid Annington Bonds Amid Repayment Shock Risk
Macro: credit litigation; GLAS sues Annington for £1.56bn over 2032–2051 bonds. Key: issuer rejects acceleration. Risk: repayment shock, guarantor strain. Trading insight: avoid Annington bonds. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Could Alcohol Advertising on TV Soon Face Stricter Rules?
Australia’s media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has launched an eight‑week public consultation to review how alcohol advertising appears on commercial free‑to‑air television. The review, running until 5:00 pm on 30 April 2026, will assess the volume, frequency and placement...
Free Weekly Chapters on Building AI‑Native Service Firms
🚨 BOOK ALERT -- Sign Up Now for *Free* Access ! 🚀 📚"Building AI-Native Professional Services Firms: Strategy, Economics, and Execution" 📖 By Daniel Katz, Michael Bommarito & Jillian Bommarito 🔥 🔥We’re releasing this book as a serialized book — full chapters...
Blue States Cite Friedman in Landmark Tariff Lawsuit
"Twenty-Four States Led by Oregon File Lawsuit Challenging Trump's Section 122 Tariffs" https://t.co/SqGRbF04Xc "This may be the first time a lawsuit filed by blue state governments quoted Milton Friedman" 🔥
More Than 20 States Challenge Trump's New Tariffs
Around two dozen Democratic‑led states have filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s new 15% global tariffs imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The states argue the president exceeds his authority, noting that Section 122 was designed for narrow...
Linda Jeng Joins Aave Labs, Signaling DeFi’s Institutional Leap
Excited to welcome Linda Jeng as Chief Legal & Policy Officer at Aave Labs. A DeFi voice since DeFi summer, Linda brings deep policy experience from the Federal Reserve Board, Financial Stability Board, U.S. Treasury, and SEC as we take...
KIDS Act Threatens Children’s Rights, Must Be Stopped
My piece on the grave dangers of the KIDS Act that congress is trying to ram through this week is one of the top stories on The Intercept. Read it here: https://t.co/Ikr00eJA7K https://t.co/eoWgDmgCkG
Quick Hits: New York Employment Law Updates (US)
Employers in New York City must now provide 32 hours of unpaid safe and sick leave in addition to existing paid time, with expanded usage categories and no rollover. The state’s Trapped at Work Act, which bans mandatory repayment agreements, has...
IRS Alerts: New Tax Scams Evolving Beyond Phishing
From phishing emails to bogus tax credits, the IRS warns that scammers keep changing tactics. Here’s what you should know about the most common tax scams now. https://t.co/0ciX8gUJKy
Bipartisan Bill Targets Bad Tax Preparers, Stops Short of Regulation
Most paid preparers aren’t subject to any licensing or competency standards. A new bipartisan bill would tighten enforcement against bad preparers, but it stops short of regulating the industry. https://t.co/J8Bz2tVSPF
New York Bill Would Codify Access to Out-of-Network Comp Pharmacies
New York Assembly Bill A.B. 10413 would codify the right of injured workers to fill workers‑comp prescriptions at pharmacies outside employer or insurer networks when delays, authorization gaps, or emergencies arise. The measure mirrors regulations the Workers’ Compensation Board adopted...
Clients Pay for Judgment, Not Just Legal Knowledge
Clients don't pay for legal knowledge necessarily. They pay for the judgment to know what to do with it.
Apple Blocks US Users From Downloading ByteDance’s Chinese Apps
Apple has begun blocking U.S. iPhone users from downloading or updating any ByteDance‑owned apps that are intended for the Chinese market, including Douyin, Doubao, and Fanqie Novel. The restriction, enforced through on‑device geolocation checks, follows the Protecting Americans from Foreign...
Coupang Builds Stablecoin Legal Team to Issue Digital Assets and Save up to $200M in Annual Fees
Coupang announced it is hiring an in‑house legal team dedicated to stablecoin issuance and regulatory compliance. The initiative will enable the e‑commerce giant to embed blockchain‑based digital assets across its South Korean and Taiwanese operations, as well as its Farfetch...
Fashion Startup Founder Pleads Guilty in $300 Million Fraud
Christine Hunsicker, founder of fashion‑rental tech firm CaaStle, pleaded guilty to securities fraud for inflating the company’s revenue and cash position. Over six years she misrepresented financials, showing a $24 million operating profit that was actually under $30,000 and a $50 million...
Fortnite Leaker Actually Worked for Epic Games, According to New Lawsuit
Epic Games filed a lawsuit in North Carolina against former contractor Hayden Cohen, known as “AdiraFNInfo,” accusing him of leaking unreleased Fortnite content. Cohen allegedly breached a September 2025 NDA by posting confidential details about upcoming collaborations with brands such...