Today's Legal Pulse
DOJ says Title VII disparate impact liability is unconstitutional
The Office of Legal Counsel concluded that disparate impact liability under Title VII violates the Constitution. The Department of Justice echoed this view, declaring employment disparate impact rules unconstitutional.
Also developing:
Physician Can’t Claim Comp Immunity in Baseball Player Death Suit: Fla. Court
A Florida appeals court affirmed that Dr. David Olson cannot invoke Minnesota workers‑compensation immunity in a wrongful‑death suit over Twins prospect Ryan Costello’s 2019 death. The court applied Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Act, which excludes professional athletes from the definition of employment, and held that Florida law governs the immunity defense. The decision overturns Olson’s summary‑judgment motion and allows the estate’s negligence claims to proceed. The ruling underscores the importance of choice‑of‑law analysis in multi‑state medical malpractice cases.
Taylor Swift, Trademarks, and the Pursuit of a Federal Right of Publicity
Taylor Swift has filed federal trademark applications covering her spoken voice, on‑stage image, and related sound marks to block AI‑generated imitations. The move follows a broader trend of celebrities using trademark law as a nationwide right of publicity, supplementing the fragmented...
RIAs Explore Litigation Finance via SEI Access
SEI expanded its alternatives platform, SEI Access, to offer litigation‑finance investments from Pravati Capital, which has funded over $248 million since 2013. The global litigation‑funding market, valued at more than $20 billion in 2025, is expected to exceed $50 billion by 2036. Advisors...
Bottom Line: “Bum Bum” Packaging Falls Flat on Trade Dress Protection
The Southern District of New York ruled that Sol de Janeiro’s “Brazilian Bum Bum Cream” jar is functional and therefore ineligible for trade‑dress protection under the Lanham Act. The court granted summary judgment to Apollo Healthcare, dismissing SDJ’s infringement counterclaim....
Judge Declares a Mistrial in Harvey Weinstein's Rape Retrial
A Manhattan judge declared a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein's New York rape retrial after the 12‑person jury remained deadlocked, with nine jurors favoring acquittal and three voting to convict. This marks the third trial on the Jessica Mann allegation, following...
Despite 36 Years at Hospital, Surgeon Considered Contractor – Not Employee
A pioneering cardiac surgeon at Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre, Teresa Prieur, spent 36 years wearing an Alberta Health Services (AHS) badge and using its resources, yet the Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta ruled she was a contractor, not an employee....
Mercury Capital Wins Ruling in Racial Discrimination Case
A federal jury dismissed the racial discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Mercury Capital placement‑agent co‑founder, who alleged the firm had become a "safe haven for white men only" under former CEO Michael Ricciardi. The verdict clears Mercury Capital of...
Pilot Models at Scale: What George V. Commissioner Teaches About the Research Credit
The Tax Court’s *George v. Commissioner* decision redefines how the federal research credit applies to large‑scale, production‑level experiments. By treating chickens raised under commercial conditions as eligible “supplies,” the court affirmed that technical uncertainty can exist even after laboratory success,...
USCIS Tightens Signature Rules for Immigration Filings: What Employers, Applicants Should Know
The Department of Homeland Security issued an interim final rule that expands USCIS authority to reject or deny immigration benefit requests with invalid signatures, even after a filing has been accepted. Effective July 10, 2026, the rule allows USCIS to keep filing...
OpenAI May Sue Apple over ChatGPT Integration
OpenAI is weighing a breach‑of‑contract lawsuit against Apple after the tech giant integrated ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence in a way that limits user visibility and simultaneously partnered with Google Gemini for Siri. Apple recently settled a separate $250 million class‑action case...
Oatley Vigmond Named One of Canada’s Top Personal Injury Boutiques
Oatley Vigmond LLP has been named by Canadian Lawyer as one of Canada’s Top Personal Injury Boutiques for the 15th consecutive year, underscoring its dominance in catastrophic injury litigation across Ontario. The firm highlighted landmark wins, including Canada’s largest spinal‑cord injury...
Oklahoma Sues Roblox, Alleging Platform Ignored Child‑predator Warnings
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a 51‑page lawsuit accusing Roblox of neglecting basic safety controls and facilitating sexual exploitation of children. The state seeks civil penalties per violation of its Consumer Protection Act and a permanent injunction to force...
Scheduling Smarter — Five California Wage and Hour Pitfalls Employers Should Address in 2026
California employers must overhaul scheduling practices to avoid costly wage‑and‑hour violations. Predictive‑scheduling rules vary by city, while meal‑break compliance drives most litigation; the recent Bradsbery decision permits limited waivers. Proactively paying break‑premium penalties builds a strong PAGA reasonable‑steps defense, and...
Hong Kong Rolls Out First Stablecoin Licenses to Dodge Chaos and Irrelevance
Hong Kong's securities regulator has issued the first wave of stablecoin licenses, outlining a sandbox‑driven, narrow‑scope framework that balances strict oversight with the need for speed. The move seeks to sidestep the twin risks of financial chaos from lax rules...
Legal Update Article Virginia’s Workplace Changes for Employers- Paid Family Leave
Virginia’s General Assembly approved a statewide paid family and medical leave (PFML) insurance program that will be funded through payroll contributions beginning April 1, 2028. Eligible workers can receive up to 12 weeks of leave with wage replacement of up to 80%...
FAA’s “No-Protest” Clause Struck Down
The FAA’s Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition (ODRA) ruled that the SETIS contract’s G.8.3 “no‑protest” clause is unenforceable, reaffirming contractors’ right to protest task‑order awards below $25 million. The decision also clarified that the FAA cannot rely on Federal Acquisition...
DOJ May Intervene in NAACP Lawsuit over xAI’s Data Center Gas Turbines
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it may intervene in the NAACP’s lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI and its subsidiary MZX Tech over alleged Clean Air Act violations. The case centers on a gas‑powered plant in Southaven, Mississippi, where 46...
Colorado Corrections Officer’s Lawsuit over Racial Sensitivity Training Tossed Out (Again)
A Colorado corrections officer's lawsuit alleging that mandatory DEI training created a hostile work environment was dismissed for the second time by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court found that a single training session and the officer's resignation...
Salesforce CLO: Law Firms That Lag in AI Are Putting Themselves in Peril
Salesforce’s chief legal officer, Sebastian Niles, warned that law firms ignoring artificial‑intelligence tools risk losing efficiency, talent, and clients. He highlighted that AI can streamline document review, predictive analytics, and case management, turning firms into service leaders rather than observers....
When AI Notetakers Enter Your Client Meetings: Ethical Duties and Risks for Lawyers
AI notetaking tools that record, transcribe, and summarize attorney‑client meetings are raising serious confidentiality and privilege concerns. The New York City Bar’s Formal Opinion 2025‑6 and Illinois ethical rules require lawyers to obtain informed consent, assess third‑party vendors, and independently...
The Coming Wave of U.S.-China AI Trade Secret Litigation—What Companies Should Be Doing Now
Artificial intelligence disputes are shifting from copyright to trade‑secret claims as companies recognize that datasets, model‑training methods, and prompt libraries constitute their most valuable assets. The U.S.–China AI ecosystem amplifies this risk, with cross‑border collaborations, employee mobility, and tightening export...
No Discovery Into Alleged "Actual Malice" In Trump's Lawsuit Against WSJ Over Jeffrey Epstein Birthday Letter Story
A federal judge in Florida dismissed President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, finding his complaint failed to allege actual malice. Trump’s subsequent motion to conduct limited discovery on the alleged malice was also denied. The ruling...
JioStar Initiates Legal Measures Against Zee Entertainment for Alleged Unauthorised Airing of Bollywood Films: Report
JioStar, the Reliance‑Disney media venture formed by an $8.5 billion merger, has filed a 120‑page pleading accusing Zee Entertainment of broadcasting twelve Bollywood films, including hits starring Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, without permission. The complaint alleges Zee aired the titles nearly twenty...
Federal Judge Rejects Challenge to Tennessee's All-Republican Congressional Map
Chief U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell Jr. denied a request by the Tennessee Democratic Party to block the state's newly drawn congressional map, clearing the way for a 9‑Republican, 0‑Democrat configuration in the 2026 elections. The ruling follows a...
Supreme Court Affirms Broker Liability Nationwide
The U.S. Supreme Court in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II held that freight brokers are subject to negligent‑hiring tort claims in every state. The ruling extends liability that already existed in a patchwork of jurisdictions, confirming that brokers can be sued...
New Director Of The SEC’s Division Of Enforcement Speaks
David Woodcock, the newly appointed Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, announced a strategic return to basic enforcement principles. He emphasized a shift from high‑volume case filing to a focus on quality, targeting core violations such as fraud, market...
Plan Early to Shield Seniors From POA Predators
The Invisible Threat - protecting parents from financial power of attorney threats. The most dangerous time for a senior is when they are in a “cognitive gray area” and haven’t yet put their protections in place. Proactive planning ensures that...
Court Orders Reinstatement of Untenured Professor Allegedly Non-Renewed for Speech About "the Palestinian Resistance"
A federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary injunction ordering Texas State University to reinstate Dr. Idris Robinson, a tenure‑track philosophy professor whose contract was not renewed after a controversial speech on the Palestinian resistance. The court ruled that the...
Musk Ends SEC Twitter-Disclosure Case With $1.5 Million Settlement
Elon Musk resolved the SEC’s lawsuit over his 2022 Twitter stake disclosures by agreeing to a $1.5 million civil penalty paid through a trust. The case centered on Musk’s failure to file a timely Schedule 13D after crossing the 5% ownership threshold,...
Bring Your AI Model (BYAIM): Redefining eDiscovery Control
Legal leaders are moving from debating AI adoption in eDiscovery to questioning who controls the model, where it runs, and how data is protected. Standard vendor‑provided AI offers speed but can lock firms into a single intelligence layer, raising governance...
Exxon Mobil Not Liable to Investors over Canadian Oil Sands, Gas Assets, Jury Says | Reuters
A Texas jury found Exxon Mobil not liable for claims that it defrauded investors by concealing material information about its Canadian oil‑sands and Rocky Mountain gas operations. The investors alleged the company hid losses, omitted carbon‑cost assumptions in reserve valuations,...
Judges Slams Class Action Firm for Bringing Claim without Authorisation
British judge ordered class‑action firm Pogust Goodhead (PG) to pay an interim £900,000 (≈$1.15 million) after finding it lacked authority to bring a 2020 claim on behalf of Brazilian plaintiffs. The claim, linked to a ship sinking in the Amazon, was...
Whistleblowing Exec Wins Case over Unpaid Termination Payment
Ilyas Seitayev, former COO of Jusan Technologies, resigned in September 2023 citing a material reduction in assets and was promised a $600,000 termination payment. After raising concerns about $12 million and $35 million payments to the chief executive, he was suspended and...
The SEC V. Musk Fiasco and the Judge Who Said No
The SEC’s settlement with Elon Musk’s companies features a waived $150 million disgorgement demand, a phantom trust as the sole defendant, and a behind‑the‑scenes negotiation that sidestepped government lawyers. Federal Judge Sparkle Sooknanan reviewed the agreement and refused to simply rubber‑stamp...
US Broker Liability Blown Open – Winners and Losers (so Far)
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9‑0 ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, holding that federal law does not protect freight brokers from state‑level personal‑injury lawsuits when they select carriers that cause accidents. The decision subjects roughly 30,000...
Clio Reaches $500 Million ARR, Taps Anthropic’s Claude for Legal AI
Clio announced it has surpassed $500 million in annual recurring revenue and is rolling out Anthropic’s Claude for Legal across its platform. CEO Jack Newton said the milestone validates the company’s AI strategy and reinforced his commitment to keep Clio headquartered...
Supreme Court Gives Flipkart Eight Weeks to Clear MarQ Inventory in Trademark Dispute
India's Supreme Court granted Flipkart eight weeks to sell off its MarQ‑branded electronics, upholding lower‑court injunctions that deem the MarQ mark deceptively similar to Marc Enterprises' MARC trademark. The two‑judge bench highlighted the risk of consumer confusion and refused to...
Florida GOP‑Drawn House Map Faces State Court Challenge Over Partisan Gerrymandering
Voter‑led lawsuits filed in Leon County ask a Florida judge to halt the newly approved U.S. House districts, arguing they breach the state’s 2010 constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering. The map, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, could add four Republican...
Supreme Court Keeps Mail‑Order Access to Abortion Pill Mifepristone in Place
The U.S. Supreme Court voted to preserve mail‑order access to the abortion medication mifepristone, rejecting a lower‑court order that would have forced in‑person dispensing. The decision leaves the FDA’s 2023 policy intact as Louisiana’s lawsuit against the agency continues.
Conference: European Principles of Transnational Litigation and Their Reception Abroad (Hamburg, 8–10 Oct 2026)
The University of Hamburg will host a three‑day conference on October 8‑10, 2026, led by Julian Rapp and Wolfgang Wurmnest, to examine European procedural principles in transnational litigation. The event will analyze core EU rules on jurisdiction, lis pendens, and judgment enforcement,...
McDermott Will & Schulte Advises Amulet Capital Partners on Acquisition of TFP Fertility Group
Amulet Capital Partners, a healthcare‑focused private equity firm, is buying TFP Fertility Group, a leading fertility provider in the UK and Northern Europe, from Benefit Street Partners. The acquisition was announced on May 7, with financial terms not disclosed. McDermott Will...
Ex-Latham Associate Unveils Free Legal AI Tool ‘Mike’ to Challenge Billion-Dollar Tech Giants
Former Latham & Watkins associate Will Chen has launched Mike, a free, open‑source legal AI platform that mirrors the capabilities of industry heavyweights Harvey and Legora. Built in just two weeks on Claude and Gemini models, Mike offers drafting, contract...
Legal AI Is Dead. Long Live Legal AI?
At the Royal Opera House, Legora CEO Max Junestrand announced that the first generation of legal AI has reached its limits, heralding a shift toward purpose‑built, domain‑specific platforms. He argued that early tools, largely repurposed from generic large language models,...
Boeing Ordered to Pay $69m to the Family of Woman Killed in Plane Crash
A Chicago federal jury awarded Samya Stumo’s family $68.6 million after she was killed in Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, the 2019 Boeing 737 Max crash. The verdict allocates $21 million for pain and suffering, $16.5 million for loss of companionship, and $12 million for grief. It follows...
5 Years of Lessons From Extended Producer Responsibility Laws
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging have expanded from Maine in 2021 to seven U.S. states, now affecting one in five Americans. California alone projects $21‑$36 billion in producer fees over the first five years, while Oregon threatens fines up...
Mining Giant Rio Tinto Lines up BP Deputy GC as Next CLO
Rio Tinto announced that Trudi Charles, currently BP’s deputy general counsel and senior vice‑president for legal, supply, trading and shipping, will become its chief legal officer in August, replacing Isabelle Deschamps. Charles brings more than two decades of experience at BP, overseeing...
US Federal Judge Blocks Sanctions Against UN Expert on Palestine
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon temporarily blocked the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, ruling they likely infringe her First Amendment free‑speech rights. The sanctions, enacted in July 2025 for her calls to the...
Singapore Court Grants Winding up Bids for Three Entities Linked to 1MDB Scandal
The Singapore High Court approved winding‑up applications for three British Virgin Islands companies linked to the 1MDB fraud. The orders empower joint liquidators from Kroll to pursue statutory claims against Standard Chartered and BSI in Singapore. Earlier attempts by the...
SRA Tells Panel Firms to Amend Misleading Letters on Investigations
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has ordered its panel firms to stop using misleading letters that present outsourced staff as SRA investigation officers. The letters, sent on SRA letterhead, implied direct regulator involvement in complaints assessments, which the firms are...
UK Urged to Ratify Lawyer-Protection Treaty One Year After Signing
The Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council are urging the UK government to ratify the Luxembourg Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, a Council of Europe‑endorsed treaty that safeguards lawyers from harassment, threats...