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
DSS Files Charges Against El-Rufai Over Alleged NSA Phone Interception
The Department of State Services has filed a three‑count criminal charge against former Kaduna governor Nasir El‑Rufai for allegedly intercepting the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Prosecutors say El‑Rufai admitted the illegal interception during a televised interview on 13 February 2026, forming the core evidence for the first count. The charges invoke the 2024 Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act and the 2003 Nigerian Communications Act, while political tension escalated after El‑Rufai’s appearance at the EFCC, where supporters were met with tear‑gas. The case intertwines legal, cyber‑security, and political dimensions in Nigeria’s high‑profile power struggles.
British Airways Passenger Reveals The Clever Way He Won Compensation Despite An ‘Extraordinary Circumstance’
A British Airways passenger successfully claimed £520 compensation after the airline cited a tropical storm in Nassau as an “extraordinary circumstance” to deny liability. The passenger appealed to an independent arbitrator, who ruled that BA had not demonstrated that it...
Sources: US Healthcare Manufacturer Danaher Is Nearing a Deal to Buy Medtech Company Masimo for ~$10B; Masimo Is in an...
Danaher, a US healthcare conglomerate, is close to finalizing a roughly $10 billion acquisition of Masimo, the maker of pulse‑oximetry and other medical monitoring devices. The deal, still subject to antitrust clearance, would add Masimo’s sensor technology to Danaher’s Life Sciences...
LALIGA Granted Precautionary Measures Against VPNs
LALIGA and Telefónica Audiovisual Digital secured precautionary court orders from Spain’s Commercial Court No. 1 in Córdoba against NordVPN and ProtonVPN. The rulings compel the VPN providers to block IP addresses linked to illegal streaming of protected football matches within Spain,...
The American Constitution Society Still Does Not Have A Competing Theory Other Than "Antitrumpism"
The episode critiques the American Constitution Society (ACS) for lacking a coherent constitutional theory beyond opposing Trump and originalism, highlighting President Phil Brest’s admission that the organization has no affirmative interpretive framework. It references Jeffrey Toobin’s NYT column exposing the...
Planning Inspectorate Expands Digital Appeals Service
The Planning Inspectorate will extend its digital Appeal a Planning Decision platform to cover enforcement, enforcement listed‑building and lawful‑development‑certificate appeals starting 26 February 2026. The rollout follows a pilot with Cornwall Council, Havering and Brent, which validated the system’s functionality. New features...
Employee Upset by "Retaliatory" Communication Wasn't Forced to Quit
The Fair Work Commission ruled that the Transport Accident Commission’s decision to restart a performance‑management process was not retaliatory, finding the employee was not forced to quit. The commission emphasized that the employer’s aim was a “positive and productive” relationship...
Draft IT Rules 2026: Relief on Meal Vouchers, Higher Tax on Company Cars?
The Indian government’s draft Income‑Tax Rules for 2026 propose raising the tax‑free limit on meal vouchers and subsidised office meals from Rs 50 to Rs 200 per meal, potentially allowing employees to claim up to Rs 1.05 lakh annually as a tax‑free benefit. At...
Know Your Business Meal Deduction Risk Levels
A guide to business meal deductions Lower Risk • Occasional client lunch • Modest amounts • Clean documentation • Clear business relationship Moderate Risk • Frequent meals but defensible revenue • Slightly aggressive % of expenses • Documentation exists but is thin High Risk • Large meals relative to income • vague “business meeting” notes • No attendee names • Receipts missing • Pattern suggest disguised...
Sponsor Bank 101: Everything Fintechs Need to Know Before Signing a Contract
In this episode, Lindsay Borgeson, President of Partner Banking at Core Bank, explains how her community bank built the CoreX Banking‑as‑a‑Service platform from the ground up, emphasizing a compliance‑first mindset, early regulator engagement, and careful tech‑partner selection. She highlights the...
Romance Could Spark Ethics Violations for Lewandowski
Come get this tea ☕️ Reports about a relationship between Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski may raise more than gossip — they could raise legal concerns. As a Special Government Employee, Lewandowski must avoid conflicts of interest and cannot exceed...
EFCC Quizzes El-Rufai, Defends Use of Tear Gas on Protesters
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summoned former Kaduna governor Nasiru El‑Rufai for questioning over alleged mismanagement of public funds during his 2015‑2023 tenure. While El‑Rufai complied, supporters stormed the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, prompting operatives to deploy tear gas...
US Dispatch: Jury Selection Set to Begin September 8 in Luigi Mangione’s Federal Case
Judge Margaret Garnett set September 8 for in‑person jury selection in Luigi Mangione’s federal murder case, with a non‑death‑penalty trial slated for October 13 and a death‑penalty trial for January 11. The defendant faces four federal counts for the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare...
FOI Is Arming Cyberattackers – Here Is How to Fix It
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on cybersecurity governance are exposing a stark inconsistency in public‑sector disclosures. Large NHS trusts and other big bodies tend to refuse or invoke national‑security exemptions, while smaller organisations often provide granular details. This uneven approach...
“Judicial Notice (02.16.26): An Embarrassing Distraction; The Resignation of Kathy Ruemmler, a Humiliating Defeat for the Trump DOJ, a Judge’s...
The Trump Justice Department suffered a high‑profile loss when senior counsel Kathy Ruemmler resigned after a federal judge labeled the workplace abusive. The resignation follows a court order compelling the administration to restore slavery exhibits at the President’s House, underscoring...
Litigation Begins to Fly Between SRA and Axiom Ince Insurer
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is facing two lawsuits from Travelers, the professional indemnity insurer for Axiom Ince, while simultaneously filing a subrogated claim against the insurer. Travelers alleges the SRA breached its duty of care, seeking up to £3 million...
Conveyancing Regulator Kicks Off Referral Fee Review
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has launched a review of referral fees after a BBC Panorama expose on estate agents’ conditional selling practices. The regulator will analyse disclosed fee data and is considering tighter regulation of estate agents to...
City Firm Sets Out Which Types of Client It Will Not Act For
Bellevue Law, a 35‑lawyer City firm and newly certified B Corp, has introduced a Sustainable and Responsible Legal Advice pledge that bars it from representing clients in sectors deemed controversial or ineligible by B Lab. The firm also refuses work...
Ireland Launches ‘Large-Scale Inquiry’ Into Musk’s AI Bot Grok
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has opened a large‑scale GDPR inquiry into Elon Musk’s X over its AI tool Grok, which has been linked to a surge of sexualized deepfakes, including images of minors. Regulators estimate Grok produced three million non‑consensual...
EU Weighs Sanctions on Georgia’s Kulevi Port over Suspected Russian Oil Links
The European Union is considering adding Georgia’s Black Sea port of Kulevi to its 20th sanctions package, accusing it of facilitating Russian crude shipments that fund the war in Ukraine. The draft targets four ports, marking the bloc’s first move...
HUK-COBURG II: A Case on Mandatory Overriding Law or Jurisdiction?
The CJEU’s judgment in HUK‑COBURG II examined whether Bulgaria’s Article 52 of the ZZD can be treated as an overriding mandatory rule under Rome II. The Court introduced a “sufficient connexion” test, requiring a close link between the facts and the forum before...
Cal/OSHA Proposes a New ‘Walkaround Rule’
On February 13, 2026 Cal/OSHA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to create a “walkaround rule” that would let additional employee, employer and third‑party representatives accompany inspectors during workplace inspections. The draft mirrors the federal OSHA rule but expands representation...
Big Financial Impacts From Off-Campus HOPD Rule Change
Effective Jan. 1 2028, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 requires hospitals to assign separate NPIs and submit two provider‑based attestations for each off‑campus hospital outpatient department (HOPD) or lose Medicare OPPS reimbursement. Compliance documentation can be extensive—up to 200 pages per...
No Retroactive Pseudonymization in Federal Court Under California "Safe at Home" Program
The episode examines recent federal and California court rulings on whether participation in California’s Safe at Home confidentiality program entitles litigants to retroactively redact or pseudonymize past federal filings. Judge Birotte’s decision in Smith v. Solomon underscores that federal courts...
How to Talk About AI…When You Hate Talking About AI
Law librarians hosted a tabling event to introduce students to emerging legal AI tools such as Lexis Protégé and Westlaw Deep Research, encountering both enthusiasm and skepticism. They used live demonstrations, clear disclaimers about court and academic rules, and a neutral...
Judge Tripp Self Leads Spring 2026 Appellate Practice Class
Appellate Practice and Procedure Class (@MercerLAWSchool) No. 5 (Spring 2026), featuring Judge @TrippSelf (U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, and @AppealsCourtGA alum). https://t.co/hs80xkZ0nR
A Case-Driven Approach to Mobile and Cloud Forensics: Forensics Best Practices
The article advocates a case‑driven, tool‑agnostic approach to mobile and cloud forensics, emphasizing that no single platform can address every device type, operating‑system version, or legal requirement. It outlines how forensic tool selection should be based on device characteristics, data...
Episode 393- When Financial Controls Fail: The SEC’s ADM Settlement and the Cost of Misleading Investors
The SEC charged Archer‑Daniels‑Midland (ADM) and three former executives with accounting and disclosure fraud, culminating in a landmark 2026 enforcement action. ADM was found to have materially overstated its nutrition segment by recording intersegment transactions on non‑market terms, inflating profitability....
Home Depot Faces Lawsuit Alleging FMLA Retaliation and Race Discrimination
A former Home Depot sales associate in Philadelphia has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the retailer of retaliating for his request for intermittent FMLA leave and of race discrimination. The complaint alleges that a store manager referenced the employee’s epilepsy...
Worker Sues Red Bull, Says HR Brushed Off His Racial Bias Complaints
Former Red Bull sales manager Jywaun Williams filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 15, alleging he was fired because of his race and for reporting racial bias. Williams claims his supervisor repeatedly used the term “boy,” treated him differently from...
Burlington Fires 24-Year Employee over 50-Cent Purchase, Faces Age Bias Suit
Long‑time Burlington associate Ana Teixeira, 59, was fired after a 50‑cent purchase triggered a newly revised discount rule. The retailer had altered its associate discount policy five weeks earlier, barring purchases of 25‑cent final markdown items, but failed to notify...
The Votes Are In! Here Are the 15 Legal Tech Startups Selected for the 2026 Startup Alley at ABA TECHSHOW
Voting has closed and fifteen legal‑tech startups were selected as finalists for the 2026 Startup Alley at ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago. The finalists will compete in an opening‑night pitch, with the winner receiving a marketing prize package, while all receive...
Disney's AI Cease‑and‑desist Misses Modding Reality
Disney sent a cease-and-desist to #Seedance over AI clips of Brad Pitt vs Tom Cruise. They are treating this as a copyright problem. It is not. Gaming's modding economics are coming to video—and half-measures will not stop it. https://t.co/OyzvSOwB7d https://t.co/fgCZBrnrNV
FutureLaw 2026: The Gig Economy, AI Agents, and the Survival of the South African Law Firm
The South African legal market is shifting from traditional lockstep firms to a gig‑economy model, propelled by AI agents and alternative legal service providers. Lawyers are moving to merit‑based pay and using platforms like Umbiie.com to serve international clients, while...
Possession, Custody, or Control – Need for a Uniform National Standard – Part II
In L.S. v. Bolduan, the Western District of Washington applied the “legal control” test and held that defense counsel’s possession of State‑court documents did not automatically give the federal defendants possession, custody, or control of those records. The court emphasized...
'We Do Not Do Illegal Things': Inside a U.S.-sanctioned Stablecoin Issuer's Race to Build a Crypto Giant
A7A5, a Kyrgyzstan‑incorporated ruble‑pegged stablecoin, added roughly $90 billion to its circulating supply last year, outpacing USDT and USDC. The issuer’s affiliates and reserve‑bank partner are listed on the U.S. sanctions list, yet the firm claims full KYC/AML compliance and positions...
Penske Sues Google for Siphoning AI‑generated Search Traffic
Antitrust filing by Penske Media Corporation claims Google is cannibalizing search traffic of sites repackaged into AI search answers. https://t.co/sHZrDZGsuS via @martinibuster, @sejournal
KLM Ends Dubai & Tel Aviv Flight Cancellation Guidance (Continue For How Long?)
KLM has stopped providing a timeline for fully restoring its Dubai and Tel Aviv services, continuing to operate only a reduced schedule that favors morning flights while cancelling most afternoon and evening rotations. The airline resumed full operations to Saudi...
Fair Use Blocks Privacy-Motivated Copyright Lawsuit–MCM V. Perry
The Southern District of New York dismissed a copyright infringement claim against Twitter user Perry after finding his tweet‑embedded screenshot qualified as fair use. Perry’s tweet juxtaposed a Forbes 30 Under 30 profile with a still from a pornographic video...
A Sovereign Call To Pay Up, Or Lose Its Licenses
A broadcast group based in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, led by Bill Curtis (legal name William C. Gleich) and Tim Sabean, has operated 11 radio stations acquired from Northern Star Broadcasting for more than 15 years. The duo now confronts...
EU Tech Enforcer Tells Officials Not to Be Scared by US Threats
EU Digital Services Act (DSA) enforcer Prabhat Agarwal urged regulators and civil‑society groups not to be intimidated by recent U.S. actions that exposed their identities and barred some from entering the United States. He highlighted the Commission’s commitment to protect...
D.C. Circuit Review – Reviewed: Retroactivity
The D.C. Circuit upheld FERC’s 2024 decision allowing PJM to exclude energy‑efficiency resources from future capacity auctions, finding the rule forward‑looking rather than retroactive. A dissent warned that the change undermines reliance interests for providers like Affirmed Energy. In a...
New Customs Rules for Imported Parcels
The EU Council approved new customs rules that will end the duty‑free exemption for parcels up to €150, imposing a flat €3 charge per item category starting July 1. Last year, 5.8 billion low‑cost e‑commerce parcels entered the bloc, a 26 % rise...
Online Harms: Millions Could Be Forced to Use Unregulated Age Verification
The UK government plans to embed Henry VIII powers in the Children Wellbeing and Schools Bill, enabling a rapid ban on social media for under‑16s via statutory instrument. Simultaneously, it will broaden mandatory age‑verification for social media, VPNs and AI chatbots,...
UK Government Must Extend New NDA Protections to Freelancers to Truly Tackle Misogyny in Music, Say MPs
The UK Parliament’s Women & Equalities Committee is pressing the government to extend the Employment Rights Act’s ban on non‑disclosure agreements (NDAs) to freelancers in the music sector. While the Act now voids NDAs that silence employees reporting harassment, it...
Strengthening Your Legal Practice Against Downtime
South African law firms face steep financial and reputational losses from IT downtime, with a single hour costing an average R360,000 for a 20‑person practice and up to R6.5 million for larger firms. The article distinguishes disaster recovery (DR) from simple...
February FCC Meeting To Consider New Noncomm FM Translators
The Federal Communications Commission will discuss a Media Bureau proposal at its February open meeting to create new non‑commercial FM translator authorizations. Translators rebroadcast existing stations, extending coverage into underserved areas. The agenda item targets both religious and secular non‑commercial...
In the Cross Hairs
Law schools with leading environmental law programs, notably Columbia’s Sabin Center and NYU’s climate fellowship, are facing a coordinated assault by right‑wing state attorneys general. The campaign includes congressional demands for investigations of senior staff, House Oversight probes, and aggressive...
EU Crypto Reporting Goes Live and Netherlands Immediately Votes on 36% Bitcoin Tax – Even if You Don’t Sell
The Dutch House approved a Box 3 overhaul that will tax the annual change in value of liquid assets such as Bitcoin at a flat 36 % rate, effective Jan 1 2028 pending Senate approval. The regime treats crypto like a marked‑to‑market security, meaning...
Weekly Letter to Our EDRM Global Community – 17 February 2026
The latest EDRM weekly letter highlights two pivotal court rulings: client‑self‑help AI documents were deemed non‑privileged and AI hallucinations prompted Rule 11 sanctions. It also promotes the ComplexDiscovery Winter 2026 eDiscovery Pricing Survey, which benchmarks AI‑driven pricing models. Upcoming webinars and podcasts...