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
UK Guidance on Digital ID for AML Compliance Answers and Raises Questions
The UK Treasury and OfDIA issued guidance linking the Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (DIATF) to anti‑money‑laundering (AML) obligations, stating that certified digital verification services (DVS) satisfy Regulation 28 customer‑due‑diligence (CDD) requirements. Regulated firms must still retain record‑keeping duties and ultimate liability for CDD, even when using third‑party providers. Critics note the guidance omits the confidence level needed for compliance and diverges from the EU AML regime, which recognises eIDAS‑qualified trust service providers. The Treasury estimates digital identity could generate £701 million in efficiency gains for the UK economy.
Samsung Updates ACR Privacy Practices After Texas Sues TV Manufacturers
Samsung has agreed to stop collecting and processing Automated Content Recognition (ACR) viewing data on its smart TVs in Texas unless consumers give explicit consent, resolving the state’s lawsuit filed in December. The company will roll out clear disclosure and...
Europe Formalizes Concerns About GenAI-Enabled Nonconsensual Deepfakes
European regulators have escalated concerns over AI‑generated non‑consensual deepfakes, issuing a joint statement through the European Data Protection Board that cites 61 authorities worldwide. The statement targets platforms that embed generative image models, highlighting the surge of child‑focused sexual exploitation...
FAMIMOVE Is Back! – FAMIMOVE 3.0 Starts on 1 March 2026
FAMIMOVE 3.0 launches on 1 March 2026 as an EU‑co‑funded initiative under the JUST‑2025‑JCOO programme, extending the work of FAMIMOVE 2.0. The two‑year project brings together seven universities from six Member States to study children in vulnerable migration situations. It will map child‑protection...
London Testing Facial Recognition App for Police as Another False Match Surfaces
London’s Metropolitan Police will pilot an operator‑initiated facial‑recognition (OIFR) mobile app, powered by NEC’s NeoFace, with 100 officers over six months. The technology promises on‑the‑spot identity checks, avoiding arrests for station‑based verification. At the same time, a series of false‑match...
Indiana Aims to Advance Crypto Access in Public Retirement Plans Amid Key Federal Regulatory Developments
Indiana’s House Bill 1042, approved by both chambers, requires state‑managed retirement and savings plans to offer self‑directed brokerage accounts with at least one cryptocurrency option, and protects citizens’ ability to use crypto for payments and wallet custody. The measure awaits...
‘Unfair and Unlawful’ SEND Consultation Facing Challenge
The UK government’s latest SEND reform consultation proposes ending the SEND Tribunal’s power to name education settings in EHCPs and shifting the duty to deliver the educational offer from local authorities to schools. Public‑law firm Rook Irwin Sweeney has filed...
Senegal Gas Project Draws International Scrutiny
The UK OECD National Contact Point has ruled a complaint from Senegalese artisanal fishers against the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas platform admissible. The complaint alleges pollution, denied fishing access, and an inadequate environmental impact assessment by BP and partners....
Who’s Suing AI and Who’s Signing: Danish Publishers Take OpenAI to Court
Danish media body DPCMO filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the AI giant trained ChatGPT on member publishers’ content without consent. The filing follows a wave of US lawsuits, including actions by The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, US News...
Hurrah! CA Overrules High Court in Zaha Hadid Case
The Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s ruling in Zaha Hadid Ltd v The Zaha Hadid Foundation, clarifying that IP licence agreements of indefinite duration can be terminated on reasonable notice. Sir Colin Birss C’s judgment aligned with earlier...
Frontier Passenger Claimed She Was Denied Boarding Because She’s Indian—Used Fake ChatGPT Citations In Her Lawsuit
Frontier Airlines denied boarding to a passenger of Indian descent during a June 13, 2023 overbooked flight, offering vouchers but no seat. The passenger, an attorney representing herself, sued for $15 million alleging racial discrimination and breach of contract. The 10th Circuit dismissed the...
Crypto Worth $580 Million Seized From Chinese Transnational Criminal Networks
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the seizure of more than $580 million in cryptocurrency tied to Chinese transnational criminal groups. The operation was driven by the DC Scam Center and the Strike Force, a joint law‑enforcement initiative targeting cross‑border crypto...
Senate Committee Proposes to Regulate Tax Preparers, Improve IRS
The Senate Finance Committee unveiled the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, targeting IRS modernization and stricter oversight of paid tax preparers. The legislation introduces penalties for preparers who alter returns, fail to provide valid PTINs, or misappropriate refunds, while...
Employer Can Contest Causation Before Authorizing Alternate Care: Iowa Appeals
The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling that forced LJ & J Corp. to approve a total knee replacement for employee John Henry. The court held that an employer disputing causation cannot be compelled to provide alternate...
Birthright Citizenship Re-Examined (From an Originalist Perspective)
Michael Ramsey’s upcoming Notre Dame Law Review article revisits the originalist debate over the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, defending a broad interpretation that grants citizenship to virtually everyone born in the United States. The paper critiques narrower readings proposed by...
U.S. Moves to Permanently Seize Sanctioned Tanker ‘Skipper’ and $150M Oil Cargo
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint to permanently seize the motor tanker Skipper and its 1.8‑million‑barrel Venezuelan crude cargo. Authorities seized the vessel off Venezuela in December 2025 after it operated without nationality and falsely claimed...
Supreme Court to Consider Whether Freight Brokers Can Be Held Liable for Negligent Hiring
The Supreme Court will hear Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, examining whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (FAAAA) preempts state negligence claims against freight brokers for negligent hiring. The case stems from a 2017 Illinois crash where...
Arik Funds Paid UmzaXpress Insurance, Lagos Court Hears
Nigeria’s EFCC testified that Arik Air funds were used to pay insurance premiums for rival carrier UmzaXpress, indicating improper financial flows. The testimony was delivered during the Lagos Special Offences Court trial of former Arik executives, AMCON officials, Union Bank...
CATL and BMW Prepare for Upcoming Battery Passport
Chinese battery giant CATL and German automaker BMW have signed a letter of intent to deepen their partnership, targeting data exchange for the EU battery passport. The two will run pilot projects using the Catena‑X open data ecosystem to enable...
When Identity Can Be Faked: Deepfakes, Voice Cloning & the Legal Risks Implicating Workplaces
Deepfake and voice‑cloning technologies are now cheap and highly convincing, prompting a wave of fraud incidents across Asia‑Pacific workplaces. Legal experts warn that manipulated audio‑video can trigger financial loss, data breaches, and even sexual‑harassment claims, stretching existing fraud and privacy...
House Bill Seeks ‘Shot Clock’ On FCC License Review Process
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D‑NJ) and a Texas Republican introduced a bill to impose a strict timeline, or “shot clock,” on the Federal Communications Commission’s license review process. The legislation aims to curb prolonged delays in approving broadcast and wireless spectrum...
Justices Appear Dubious of Challenge to Constitutionality of Foreclosure Sales
The Supreme Court heard Pung v. Isabella County, where taxpayer Michael Pung argues that a tax‑foreclosure auction sold his property below fair‑market value and thus violates the Fifth Amendment takings clause. The justices appeared convinced they will reject the takings...
US Judge Again Refuses to Allow New Hampshire to Abolish Auto Inspections
A federal judge denied New Hampshire's request to stay a court injunction that blocks the state from abolishing its vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. The injunction remains in force until the EPA approves the state's plan to meet Clean...
"The Docket that Shall Not Be Named"
At Harvard Law School's Rappaport Forum, legal scholars debated the Supreme Court’s increasingly controversial “shadow docket.” Professor Kate Shaw and moderator Richard Re led a conversation about recent interim relief orders, emphasizing that it is too early to infer systematic...
US Litigation Firm Reports Sharp Rise in Settlement Outcomes Following EvenUp AI Agent Deployment
Houston-based personal injury firm John K. Zaid & Associates deployed EvenUp’s Proactive Personal Injury AI Platform. The AI rollout generated a 30% month‑over‑month increase in demand drafting and a 300% jump in settlement offers on low‑value claims. Automated medical chronology...
SEC V. Morocoin and the ‘Schrödinger’s Asset’ Dilemma – McGuireWoods
The SEC filed a lawsuit against Morocoin Tech Corp., three investment clubs and four crypto‑trading platforms, accusing them of a fraudulent token offering that promised outsized returns and left retail investors empty‑handed. The complaint highlights a novel legal question: whether...
California Sets August Deadline for GHG Emissions Reporting
California’s Air Resources Board has set an August 2024 deadline for companies to file mandatory greenhouse‑gas (GHG) emissions reports covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The state’s climate‑action statutes, including AB 32 and SB 32, require detailed carbon accounting to enforce its cap‑and‑trade...
Uber Ballot Measure to Cap Personal Injury Fees, Limit Medical Damages Sparks Ire
Uber has filed a California ballot initiative to cap personal‑injury lawyers' contingency fees at 25% and limit medical damages, spending roughly $32.5 million on the effort. A coalition of attorneys, medical providers and consumer groups has mobilized $55 million to oppose the...
The Lawyer at the Negotiating Table: Frank Poe on Professionalizing the Creator Economy
Frank Poe, former general counsel at Creators Entertainment, launched Poe Law PLLC in December 2023 to provide dedicated legal services for the rapidly expanding creator economy. His firm represents agencies, managers, creators, and brands, focusing on influencer contracts, payment structures,...
Oman Re and Gallagher Re Support New Mandatory Nat Cat Cover for Motor Insurance
Oman has become the first GCC market to mandate natural‑catastrophe coverage within its Unified Motor Insurance Policy, effective 19 February 2026 after a one‑month alignment period. The scheme, built with Oman Re, Gallagher Re and the Oman Insurance Association, automatically protects third‑party...
The ERC Trap: Closed Claims and Ticking Clocks
The IRS announced it closed all non‑examined Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims on Dec. 31, 2025, yet roughly 41,000 claims remain in examination or appeal stages, many stalled without resolution. Appeals is severely backlogged, and the two‑year statutory deadline to sue for...
The Hidden Surge in Sales Promotion Fraud: What Retailers Must Prepare For in 2026
Sales promotion fraud is accelerating as retailers launch richer incentives in 2026, and AI‑powered bots and synthetic identities are now automating claim submissions at scale. Fraudsters exploit loopholes in cashback, rebate and trade‑in programs, using deep‑fake receipts and coordinated “promotion...
The Compliance Illusion: Why Passing an Audit Doesn’t Mean You’re Secure
PayPal’s Working Capital loan system exposed personal data for six months despite holding PCI‑DSS, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 certifications. The breach underscores that passing audits confirms controls at a point in time, not continuous security resilience. Author Dharmesh Acharya argues compliance...
A Nuanced Discussion About Paul Weiss and Brad Karp
In this Legal Speak episode, hosts Cedra Mayfield and Patrick Smith interview attorney and journalist David Latt about former Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp’s resignation amid revelations of his communications with Jeffrey Epstein. Latt explains that Karp’s step‑down was a pragmatic compromise—remaining...
New York Court Wipes U.S. Bank Mortgage Off the Books in FAPA Ruling
A New York appellate court ruled that U.S. Bank’s mortgage on homeowner John Williams is permanently cancelled because the bank filed a foreclosure action beyond the six‑year limit set by the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA). The bank’s four attempts...
Supreme Court Nullifies IEEPA Tariffs—Use Free AI Auditor
The Supreme Court ruled on Feb 20th that IEEPA tariffs were invalid. CBP stopped charging them on Feb 24th. Expect lawsuits are already filed challenging the tariffs for entries dated Feb 20-23rd. But I expect those won’t actually matter as...
Artificial Voice Cold Calls Spark Class Action Against Mortgage Lender
Mortgage One Funding LLC, a Michigan‑based lender, faces a federal class‑action lawsuit alleging it used artificial‑voice technology to cold‑call consumers about cash‑out refinancing without prior consent. The calls targeted numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry, violating the...
First Amendment Protects Right to Use Nudity as Protest (There, a Pro-Trans Protest) in Public
The Washington Supreme Court ruled that a recall petition against City Councilmember Lucy Lauser was legally insufficient because her topless protest on International Transgender Day of Visibility was protected expressive conduct under the First Amendment. The court clarified that Washington’s...
Meta Sues To Block Ad Scams By Firms In 3 Countries
Meta has filed lawsuits in Brazil, China and Vietnam to stop firms running deceptive ad campaigns and has issued cease‑and‑desist orders to eight marketing consultants accused of helping advertisers evade its policies. At the same time, a coalition of leading...
Live Animal Logistics Enters the Age of Embedded Compliance
Live animal transport, a niche yet highly regulated air cargo segment, is facing a surge in regulatory intensity, highlighted by the CDC's 2024 dog‑import rule with a three‑month rollout. IATA introduced LAR Verify, a digital platform that delivers real‑time, shipment‑specific...
Meta Cracks Down on Scam Ads with Legal Action
At some point the AI Search platforms will build stronger anti-spam systems, have manual actions, take legal action against spammers, etc. I have covered that before. Here is how an established platform like Meta continues to tackle problems like that....
EPA Repeal Undermines Climate Superfund Litigation Strategy
📣NEWS: EPA's repeal of the endangerment finding is *already* surfacing in separate #climate litigation. Intervenors defending Vermont's "climate superfund" law today filed a motion saying repeal undercuts the EPA/DOJ position against the Vermont law. #energy #OOTT
Ironclad Hits $200m ARR Mark – We Interview CEO Dan Springer
Ironclad, the San Francisco‑based contract lifecycle management (CLM) platform, announced that its annual recurring revenue (ARR) has topped $200 million, up from $150 million a year earlier and reflecting nearly 40% year‑on‑year growth. The company, valued at $3.2 billion after its 2022 funding...
Meta Claims Data Scandal Immaterial; FTC Sees Antitrust Evidence
For those still doubting antitrust and privacy law don't intersect, Meta just argued in DC privacy suit its biggest data scandal in its history wasn't material as users didn't exit whereas FTC has argued users sticking when its reputation was...
DAF Donors Lose Legal Control, Case Highlights Risks
Donor-Advised Funds can be a good planning tool, but you give up legal control after the irrevocable donation. Peterson v. Christian Community Foundation dba WaterStone involves a $21M DAF sponsor ignoring a donor-advisor. @CNBC article by @HCuccinello https://t.co/KzEWeax1ER
Weekly Wrap: Resilience Is the New Spectrum Policy Buzzword
The EU’s Digital Networks Act (DNA) is being positioned as a cornerstone for simplifying telecom regulations and reducing market fragmentation across member states. At the Future Connectivity Summit, regulators emphasized the Act’s role in fostering spectrum coherence while also highlighting...
California May Counter Warner‑Paramount Merger with Robust State Law
California legislators could hit back at the Warner-Paramount deal by passing a strong state level merger law.
Tariff Payments Show Voters, Not Foreigners, Foot the Bill
The process and legal fights over paying back import taxes will help shove tariffs back into voters’ minds, as well as provide them an excruciatingly detailed civics lesson in who literally pays the levies. (Hint: it’s not foreign governments.) https://t.co/N8dOe6rapr
Banks Need to Rethink How They Train Staff to Fight Financial Crime
Banks are confronting a financial‑crime threat that evolves faster than their compliance training cycles. The profession suffers from a thin talent pipeline, with most hires arriving mid‑career and no standardized academic path. Current training is static, annual, and siloed, while...
Four Categories of Documents Requested by Plaintiffs Denied by Court: EDiscovery Case Law
In Yotta Techs. Inc. v. Evolve Bank & Trust, a California magistrate denied all four of Yotta’s motions to compel production of documents. The court rejected Yotta’s request for unredacted personally identifying information, finding the effort disproportionate and untimely. It...