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
Victims Recall Horror of School Shooting in Trial Against Suspect’s Father
Multiple survivors of the September 4, 2024 Apalachee High School shooting testified about severe physical injuries and lasting anxiety as the murder trial of their shooter’s father, Colin Gray, proceeds. The father faces 29 charges, including second‑degree murder and child cruelty, after prosecutors allege he supplied the assault rifle and accessories despite prior police warnings. Victims described limited mobility, missed school years, and ongoing trauma, underscoring the broader human cost of the tragedy. The case highlights parental negligence as a central factor in the legal narrative.
Federal Judge Tells The Trump Administration To Quit Acting Like Big Brother
Federal Judge Cynthia M. Rufe granted a preliminary injunction forcing the Department of Justice to restore signage, displays, and videos at Philadelphia’s President’s House that detail the slaves owned by George Washington. The Trump administration had sought to remove the...
Europe's Strict Regulations Push Talent Toward the US
🇪🇺 @steipete on why Europe was unable to retain him as talent: "In the US, most people are enthusiastic. In Europe, I get insulted, people scream REGULATION and RESPONSIBILITY. And if I really build a company here, then I get to struggle...
County Challenges FBI Raid, Demands Return of 2020 Election Records
NEW: The filing, which shreds the logic behind the raid, marks the county’s latest effort to reclaim the materials seized by the FBI during the raid, including the original — and only — copy of Fulton County’s 2020 election records....
‘No Careless Mistake’: Trump Sued for Removing Pride Flag at Stonewall Monument
LGBTQ advocates sued the Trump administration after the National Park Service removed the rainbow flag from the Stonewall National Monument, citing a Department of the Interior memo that limits flags at federal parks. The plaintiffs argue the action reflects targeted...
Circle Responds to Bank of England’s Consultation on Systemic Sterling Stablecoins
Circle has formally responded to the Bank of England’s consultation on a regulatory framework for systemic sterling‑denominated stablecoins. The firm endorses using central‑bank deposits and short‑term UK government bonds as reserve assets but objects to the proposed mandatory 40% allocation...
IP, AI And The Pandora’s Box We Just Opened
The episode examines the clash between AI‑generated video tools like ByteDance’s Seedance 2.0 and traditional intellectual‑property enforcement, spotlighting cease‑and‑desist letters from Disney and Paramount. It explains how generative AI can produce near‑identical replicas of copyrighted characters, blurring the line between...
NY AG Issues Alert on Crypto-Based Pig Butchering Scams
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning that crypto‑based pig‑butchering scams are targeting New Yorkers through romance and professional ruses. The scams involve coaches who instruct victims to lie to bank staff, making fraud detection difficult....
Massachusetts Judge Pauses ICE Policy Allowing Enforcement in Churches
A Massachusetts federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting the Department of Homeland Security’s new guidance that permits ICE agents to conduct immigration enforcement inside and near houses of worship. The memo, introduced by acting DHS secretary Benjamine Huffman, replaced...
Got In To Your Dream Law School? Federal Loan Caps Could Change The Math
The U.S. Department of Education will enforce a new federal loan cap on July 1, 2026, limiting professional‑school borrowing to $50,000 per year and $200,000 total. At top‑tier law schools, where tuition and living costs often exceed $100,000 annually, the cap forces...
Virginia Democrats Weigh Increasing Parole Opportunities to Decrease Rising Prison Medical Costs
Virginia Democrats approved a bill to double the state parole board to at least ten members, slated to take effect in 2028, as part of a strategy to curb soaring prison medical expenses. A recent Department of Corrections report showed...
Cumulus, Nielsen Get New Deadlines in Escalating Ratings Lawsuit
A federal judge in the Southern District of New York has established a detailed briefing schedule for the next phase of the Cumulus Media versus Nielsen lawsuit. Nielsen’s counterclaims allege Cumulus illegally shared confidential ratings data with Eastlan Ratings, violating...
The Votes Are In! Here Are The 15 Legal Tech Startups Selected For The 2026 Startup Alley At ABA TECHSHOW
The ABA TECHSHOW’s 2026 Startup Alley has selected 15 legal‑tech startups to pitch on opening night, after a public voting process narrowed a panel‑chosen shortlist of 25. Winners will showcase their AI‑driven solutions—from immigration case management to email automation and settlement...
Mastering Ediscovery with This Comprehensive Guide From Everlaw: EDiscovery Best Practices
Everlaw released a 151‑page guide titled “Mastering Ediscovery,” detailing every stage of the eDiscovery process from data preservation to generative AI. The guide breaks down legal hold duties, FRCP Rule 26(f) protocols, predictive coding workflows, and the latest AI‑driven tools for...
Bank of Canada Orders XTM to Cease Retail Payment Activities After Investment Regulator Halts Trading of Its Stock
The Bank of Canada ordered fintech XTM and its affiliates to stop all retail payment activities after customers of its Everyday Payments subsidiary reported missing funds. Simultaneously, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization halted trading of XTM’s PAID stock, causing the...
Kolchinsky: Policy Constraints Holding Back Biomedical Innovation
In a BioCentury interview, RA Capital Managing Partner Peter Kolchinsky warned that staffing cuts and a growing conservative stance at the FDA are adding at least a three‑month delay to even the most promising drug programs. He says sponsors are now...
Rent to Your Business Tax-Free—Only With Proper Paperwork
Influencers: “Rent your house to your business and boom — tax-free money.” What they don’t tell you: 📂 Fair market rent. 📝 Real agendas and minutes. 👥 Actual humans in attendance. 💼 A separate legal entity. 📸 Documentation that doesn’t look like it was created during...
FCC Waivers Cover Moves of EAS Gear
The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued two waivers this month allowing broadcasters to temporarily take Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment offline while relocating it. Fort Myers Broadcasting received approval to move EAS gear for three Florida stations,...
Utah Considers Adding a Third Law School
Utah lawmakers are evaluating a bill to create a third law school, tasking Utah Valley University with a feasibility study for a campus at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. The study, due Nov. 30, will examine accreditation routes, including ABA approval, and...
Governor of Utah Slams CFTC’s Regulation of Prediction Markets Which Are “Gambling”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox publicly denounced the CFTC’s push to regulate prediction markets, calling them pure gambling and vowing to fight the agency in court. CFTC Chairman Mike Selig responded that the commission is prepared to litigate to preserve federal preemption over...
New York Enacts Chapter Amendment to “Trapped at Work Act,” Clarifying Scope, Creating Targeted Exceptions, and Delaying Effective Date
Governor Hochul signed a chapter amendment to New York’s Trapped at Work Act, narrowing its coverage to employees and redefining repayment obligations. The amendment postpones the law’s operative provisions to December 19 2026, effectively delaying compliance for a year. It introduces targeted...
3 Questions For A Litigation Funding Startup Founder (Part II)
The interview with Signal Peak founder Lauren Harrison highlights a critical shortage of trial‑ready talent in IP law firms, noting that fewer than 10% of litigators have ever tried a case. She explains that funders favor firms that can confidently...
Papa John's Franchisee Loses Power to Compel Arbitration After Missing AAA Payment
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Papa Texas, a Papa John’s franchisee, cannot compel arbitration after it failed to pay its share of the American Arbitration Association fees. The company missed multiple payment deadlines despite settlement...
Seventh Circuit Strikes Down Religious Accommodation Claim Lacking Specific Beliefs
The Seventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of religious‑accommodation claims by three Illinois school employees who refused COVID‑19 vaccination and weekly testing. The court ruled that invoking a vague moral conscience without linking the objection to a specific religious belief does...
TEKsystems Loses Overtime Battle: Court Says Recruiters Are Producers, Not Admins
A Pennsylvania federal judge ruled that TEKsystems misclassified its recruiters as exempt, finding they perform core sales functions and are therefore entitled to overtime. The decision highlights that actual job duties, not titles, determine exemption status under the Fair Labor...
Thousands of American Airlines Employees Blamed New Uniforms for Rashes—10 Years Later, Courts May Toss Their Case
The episode examines the ongoing lawsuit by American Airlines employees who claim the airline’s 2016 uniform change caused skin rashes, a case now before the Seventh Circuit. It outlines the timeline of complaints, the inconclusive testing by Intertek and NIOSH,...
Delaware High Court Rules for Insurers in Ransomware Case
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed a lower‑court dismissal and revived insurers’ claims against Blackbaud for costs incurred after the 2020 ransomware breach. The insurers, who paid more than $2 million for forensic, legal, and credit‑monitoring services, met the state’s notice‑pleading standard...
Organization's Copilot Use Sparks Tricky Legal, E-Discovery Questions: A Chat With Legalweek Speaker Noah Koerner
Microsoft Copilot is rapidly being deployed across enterprises, prompting a deep dive into its legal ramifications. Noah Koerner, director of information governance at Lighthouse, highlighted how AI‑generated content can blur attorney‑client privilege and complicate e‑discovery. He warned that vendor‑provided logs...
99% Accuracy, 75% Less Manual Work: Inside One Hospice’s HOPE Secret Weapon
Anchor Health, a California hospice provider, adopted Vitalis’s Ray tool to meet the Medicare‑mandated HOPE compliance requirements. Ray pulls real‑time data from the HOPE dashboard, delivering roughly 99% accuracy while cutting manual tracking effort by about 75%. In a pilot,...
Court Rules Medicare Compliance No Defense Against OSHA Workplace Violence Citations
A Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals decision rejected Cedar Springs Hospital's claim that Medicare compliance shields it from OSHA workplace‑violence citations. The Colorado psychiatric facility was cited for seven safety deficiencies and fined $13,494. The court clarified that CMS regulations...
Law Professors Sue EEOC to Expose Secret BigLaw DEI Settlement Terms
Two law professors have filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission seeking the release of secret settlement agreements the agency reached with several major law firms over their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The settlements, signed between...
‘Millionaires Tax’ Clears Washington Senate
Washington state senators approved a 9.9% income tax on earnings above $1 million, marking the first legislative hurdle for the so‑called “millionaires tax.” The measure, passed 27‑22, is projected to generate about $3.5 billion annually and would affect roughly 30,000 high‑income taxpayers....
Trump Justice Dept. Launches Bunk Investigation Of Netflix Merger As a Favor To Larry Ellison
The Department of Justice has launched a wide‑ranging investigation into Netflix’s planned $82.7 billion merger with Warner Bros., citing antitrust concerns over media consolidation. Critics argue the probe is a political maneuver to aid billionaire Larry Ellison’s competing bid for Warner’s...
San Jose Can Protect Immigrants by Ending Flock Surveillance System
San Jose’s police department has logged more than 261,000 automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) searches in just over a year—roughly 700 daily—without warrants, raising privacy alarms. Neighboring jurisdictions such as Mountain View, Los Altos Hills, Santa Cruz, East Palo Alto and...
Divided FTC Finalizes Rule to Ban Noncompete Agreements
The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule banning most non‑compete agreements, approved by a 3‑2 vote and set to take effect 120 days after publication. The regulation spares only senior executives earning over $151,164, preserving existing clauses for that group....
Latest Updates on the UK Employment Rights Act 2025: Revised Implementation Timeline and New Consultations
The UK government has revised the Employment Rights Act 2025 rollout, moving six flagship reforms—including doubled redundancy awards, whistleblowing updates and menopause guidance—to 6 April 2026 and establishing the Fair Work Agency on 7 April 2026. Electronic and workplace balloting will now debut in...
CME Group Fines, Suspends Broker for Allegedly Disclosing Non-Public Info Regarding Customer Orders
CME Group announced a $40,000 fine and a 30‑business‑day suspension for broker Kevin Milan after he disclosed material non‑public information about large crude oil futures orders in April‑May 2020. Milan shared order quantity, side, and contract months before the trades...
Gain Confidence Complying with California HR Laws at HR Boot Camp
California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is hosting a virtual HR Boot Camp on February 26‑27, 2026, offering two half‑day seminars to help employers navigate California’s complex employment laws. The curriculum spans hiring, wage‑and‑hour rules, paid‑time‑off policies, protected leaves, reasonable accommodations, harassment prevention,...
Plaintiffs’ Failure to Timely Raise Lack of Defendant’s Privilege Log Defeats Waiver Claim
The Nevada district court rejected plaintiffs’ motion to deem all privileges waived because the insurer’s privilege log was filed late. While the court affirmed the ongoing duty to supplement disclosures under Rule 26(e), it declined to impose a strict 30‑day rolling...
SBF Trial Centers on Theft, Not Crypto Regulation Politics
About SBF's retrial motion: One debate is, what was wrong about how Gensler regulated crypto? The other is: "Is it legal to steal customer funds and lie about it?" "Even if you agree that crypto enforcement was politicized, that is...
Fintechs Embed Bitcoin, Bypassing Trust and Access Hurdles
Bitcoin doesn’t need mass retail adoption to prove utility. It needs regulated distribution. That’s what SoFi Technologies just demonstrated with Bitcoin. This isn’t a “crypto comeback” story. It’s a regulatory arbitrage story. After exiting crypto in 2023 due to bank charter constraints, SoFi re-entered through...
OCC Proposes New Appeal Process for Banks, Trusts
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has proposed a new appeals board that would review supervisory decisions using a de novo “fresh look” standard. The rule expands appeal rights to uninsured institutions such as national trust banks and...
SEC Dismissals Aren’t Evidence of Corruption
"The SEC dismissing cases that should not have been brought is not corruption." 🦾 -- Jessi Brooks https://t.co/jdHAEKYBe9
SBF Skips Lawyer, Suggesting Financial Strain.
SBF's "not using a lawyer to file this motion, and could mean he doesn't have the money to pay for it or none of the lawyers he spend a gazillion dollars on would do it." -- Jessi Brooks https://t.co/jdHAEKYBe9
France Releases Oil Tanker GRINCH After ‘Several Million Euro’ Penalty for Sanctions Evasion
French authorities released the oil tanker GRINCH after its owner paid a multi‑million‑euro penalty for sanctions evasion. The vessel, seized in the Alboran Sea in January, was suspected of operating under a false Comoros flag as part of Russia’s shadow...
A Modern Approach for Modern Data: Context-Aware eDiscovery: EDiscovery Webinars
A webinar hosted by ACEDS will explore how traditional eDiscovery tools lag behind today’s collaborative, cloud‑native data environments. Speakers from Walgreens, Cloudficient, and KLDiscovery will explain a context‑aware approach that leverages behavior, identity, and data lineage to improve custodian identification...
Littler Edge Training - Q1 2026
Littler Mendelson is hosting a live webinar on March 12, 2026 to demonstrate Littler Edge, its new employment‑and‑labor‑law compliance platform. The 45‑minute session, led by Knowledge Management Director Katherine R. Hinde, will walk participants through the tool’s search, guidance, and...
Legal Aid Tool at UBC Helps Students Ask Better Questions, Rather than Giving Answers
University of British Columbia’s Peter A. Allard School of Law has created an AI‑driven legal aid tool that generates targeted questions instead of direct answers when students input case scenarios. The project, led by lecturers Jon Festinger and Nikos Harris,...
EU Top Court New Search Tool Dubbed a ‘Disaster’ by Lawyers
The European Court of Justice launched a redesigned InfoCuria portal in January, but lawyers and scholars quickly labeled it a “disaster.” The new search engine omits fundamental filters such as case number, language, and judge rapporteur, forcing users to rely...
Houston Companies to Pay $200K to Workers Fired for Asbestos Concern
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration ordered two Houston construction firms, Rise Construction LLC and Niko Group LLC, to reinstate two workers they fired for raising asbestos safety concerns during a hotel repair after Hurricane Beryl....