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
FCC Approves Reassignment of UEN-TV License Within Utah University System
The FCC approved a pro forma reassignment of the UEN‑TV (KUEN) license from the Utah Board of Higher Education to the University of Utah on Dec. 4, placing the station under PBS Utah’s oversight. No money changed hands in the transaction. The move follows the loss of federal Community Service Grant funding, which forced UEN‑TV to drop its custom educational slate and shift to First Nations Experience programming. PBS Utah plans to replace the current feed with a 24/7 PBS Kids channel, pending a launch date.
Iterative Regulation
Iterative regulation reframes compliance as a living, cyclical process rather than a static checklist. It introduces phased maturity levels, pilot programs, and outcome‑based standards that evolve with technology and risk. Robust metrics and continuous reporting feed data‑driven adjustments, while transparent...
Federal Judges May Address ‘Illegitimate Forms of Criticism and Attacks,’ According to New Ethics Opinion
The Judicial Conference’s Committee on Codes of Conduct released a new ethics opinion guiding federal judges on public commentary. It urges judges to favor reasoned discourse and avoid demeaning rhetoric when discussing controversial legal issues. The opinion permits judges to...
The People Advantage: Why Clients Still Choose People Over AI in Legal Services
A recent LEX Reception survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers shows that despite AI’s growing role in legal back‑office tasks, clients overwhelmingly prefer human interaction for front‑line service. Eighty‑four percent want to speak to a real person, and 87% actively bypass...
Stable FDA Rules Essential for Patient Safety and Investment
To invest the billions it costs to make new medicines, companies need to be able to trust the word and actions of the FDA. To capaciously change the rules at the end of the game ultimately hurts patients.
Sanctions Data Has Outgrown the Systems Built to Manage It
Sanctions‑related securities have multiplied severalfold since early 2022, turning a niche compliance issue into a real‑time operational variable. A SIX survey of 291 financial institutions shows senior executives now expect sanctions data to create material challenges across trading, risk and...
DoJ Antitrust Enforcer Exits Weeks Before Live Nation Trial
Gail Slater, the DOJ’s assistant attorney general for antitrust, abruptly resigned days before the department’s high‑profile trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Her departure follows reports of internal clashes over settlement negotiations that could spare the companies from a breakup....
A Wave of Lawsuits Has Resulted From Online Comments After Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
The assassination of right‑wing activist Charlie Kirk sparked a cascade of legal actions targeting individuals and institutions that posted online commentary about the killing. A retired police officer in Tennessee was arrested for mocking the mourning and later filed a...
Oregon Considers Bill to Stop Hospice Scammers From Entering State
Oregon lawmakers are reviewing Senate Bill 1575, which would bar hospices with fraud histories or substandard care in other states from obtaining licenses in Oregon. The bill mandates the Oregon Health Authority to review applicants' Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers...
One-Time Ownership Verification Required Under New Order
“Under a new order, the institutions only have to verify the ownership of an entity the first time it opens an account, or if there’s reason to believe that the information is no longer reliable.”
Senate GOP Aims to Reveal Companies Funding Lawsuits
Four Senate Republicans introduced the Litigation Funding Transparency Act, mandating that third‑party litigation funders disclose their identities and abstain from influencing case strategy or settlements. The bill targets firms such as Burford Capital, which can intervene in high‑stakes settlements like...
Checking In On Stryker
Medical‑device maker Stryker has faced multiple FCPA enforcement actions, paying $13.2 million in 2013 and $7.8 million in 2018 for alleged bribery in various countries. A new investigation disclosed in 2023 triggered SEC and DOJ inquiries, but the DOJ closed its probe...
Regulatory Silence Is an Interpretive Act
In this episode, Nathan Eckel explores how regulatory silence functions as an implicit form of interpretation, especially in healthcare compliance where guidance often lags behind operational change. He explains that organizations fill the void by creating provisional standards that become...
Nielsen’s VideoAmp Lawsuit Should Be Tossed, Judge Suggests
A Delaware federal judge recommended granting VideoAmp's motion to dismiss Nielsen's patent infringement lawsuit, effectively ending Nielsen's claim over its proprietary audience measurement technology. The case centered on Nielsen's allegation that VideoAmp used its patented methods without permission. The judge's...
Senator Warner Advances CLARITY Act Amid SEC Warning
UPDATE: 🚨 Democratic Senator Mark Warner is pushing for the CLARITY Act to move forward, while SEC Chair Atkins warns that lasting rules require congressional legislation. Source: Coindesk https://t.co/zEHb6FSfTs
MPA’s Rivkin Calls Out ByteDance Infringement
Charles Rivkin, CEO of the Motion Picture Association, publicly condemned ByteDance’s new AI service Seedance 2.0 for massive unauthorised use of U.S. copyrighted works. He urged the company to halt the infringing activity immediately, emphasizing the threat to creators’ rights and...
Antitrust Chief Gail Slater O
D.C. Memo: Smack in the Middle of Nexstar-TEGNA, Antitrust Chief Gail Slater Shown the Door | @gailaslater @JusticeATR $NXST $TGNA | https://t.co/QLfJxuKDW6
Commission Approves UMG’s Acquisition of Downtown, Subject to Conditions
The European Commission has cleared Universal Music Group’s purchase of Downtown Music Holdings, but only after the companies agreed to fully divest Downtown’s royalty‑accounting platform Curve. The conditional approval removes UMG’s ability to access Curve’s data on rival labels, which...
United’s A350 Order In Peril Amid Rolls-Royce Legal Battle
United Airlines has removed the Airbus A350‑900 from its fleet plans after a legal dispute with Rolls‑Royce, the aircraft's sole engine supplier. The airline originally ordered 45 A350‑900s in 2009, deferred deliveries to 2027, and now faces uncertainty over the...
Dutch Carrier Odido Discloses Data Breach Impacting 6 Million
Dutch mobile carrier Odido announced a data breach that exposed personal information of more than 6 million customers, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email, dates of birth, bank account and passport or driver‑license details. The intrusion occurred on February 7‑8 and targeted...
Kyndryl Wants to Help Enterprises Keep AI Agents in Line – and Avoid Costly Compliance Blunders
Kyndryl introduced a policy‑as‑code feature that converts corporate rules, regulations, and operational controls into machine‑readable policies for AI agents. The capability, embedded in its Agentic AI Framework, ensures agents act only within pre‑approved boundaries, providing deterministic execution, guardrails, and human‑supervised...
Seaton: In Praise of Lawyer Cat
During a 2021 Texas civil forfeiture Zoom hearing, an attorney appeared on screen as a cat due to a video filter mishap, prompting Judge Roy Ferguson to intervene and help resolve the technical issue. The incident, now known as "Lawyer...
19 Years And Counting
Simple Justice, a legal blog launched on February 13, 2007, celebrates 19 years of continuous publishing. The post reflects on the decline of the once‑vibrant legal blogosphere and the shift toward isolated commentary. It notes that current discourse is dominated...
EPA Abandons Endangerment Finding, Cites No DOE Report
🚨EPA dropped the actual #EndangermentFinding and vehicle regs pullback docs late last night. One notable tidbit: it claims the final rule doesn't rely at all on DOE's contrarian "Climate Working Group" report, which ran into legal trouble. #energy #climate #EPA...
Sexual Harassment and the Employment Rights Act (Webinar)
The Employment Rights Act 2025 imposes a stricter duty on UK employers to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment, extending liability to harassment by third parties. The Act also reclassifies sexual‑harassment disclosures as protected whistleblowing, demanding trusted, retaliation‑free reporting...
MPA Calls AI Cruise‑Pitt Video Massive Infringement
After AI Video of ‘Tom Cruise’ Fighting ‘Brad Pitt’ Goes Viral, Motion Picture Association Denounces ‘Massive’ Infringement on Seedance 2.0 https://t.co/by3sIOC6TK
VM Vita Markets and HTFX (EU) Have Their Cyprus Investors Compensation Fund Membership Withdrawn
CySEC announced the withdrawal of Investors Compensation Fund membership for VM Vita Markets Ltd and HTFX (EU) Ltd after revoking their Cyprus Investment Firm licences. The regulator clarified that covered clients retain the right to compensation for transactions executed before...
The Cyber Express Weekly Roundup: Escalating Breaches, Regulatory Crackdowns, and Global Cybercrime Developments
The Cyber Express weekly roundup highlights a series of high‑profile cyber incidents across continents. The European Commission’s mobile device management system was breached but contained within nine hours, while Senegal’s national identity services were crippled by ransomware. In Australia, FIIG...
How Financial Firms Can Stay on Top of SEC Compliance
Financial firms face mounting SEC scrutiny, prompting a seven‑point playbook to boost compliance resilience. The guide stresses establishing clear policies, automating daily checklists, and embedding cyber‑security controls such as multi‑factor authentication. It also highlights real‑time AML screening, rigorous marketing approvals,...
iDox.ai Launches Real-Time Guardrail to Prevent Sensitive Data Exposure in AI Workflows
iDox.ai unveiled Guardrail, a real‑time endpoint agent that stops confidential data from reaching generative AI tools. The solution applies policy‑based controls as users type, paste, or upload content, automatically blocking, sanitizing, or allowing actions based on risk. Guardrail targets legal,...
Novo Nordisk Sues Hims & Hers; TrumpRx Is Here; Physicians Are Not ‘Providers,’ Says ACP – Morning Medical Update Weekly...
Novo Nordisk has filed a patent lawsuit against telehealth firm Hims & Hers, alleging illegal compounding of semaglutide after the FDA declared the drug no longer in shortage. The case targets the surge in compounded Wegovy and Ozempic that emerged...
How Businesses Can Reduce Employment Risk by Implementing Better Workplace Policies
Businesses that neglect clear workplace policies face heightened legal disputes, morale problems, and financial loss. The article outlines how concise, practical employee handbooks, regular manager training, and up‑to‑date documentation can dramatically lower employment risk. It emphasizes early reporting mechanisms and...
Recent Publication: Towards Universal Parenthood in Europe
“Towards Universal Parenthood in Europe”, edited by Laura Carpaneto, Francesca Maoli and Ilaria Queirolo, presents the findings of the EU‑co‑funded UniPAR project. The volume offers comparative analyses across six member states—Spain, Belgium, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia and Poland—covering jurisdiction, applicable law,...
Solicitor Struck Off After Faking Attendance Note to Hide Court Lateness
A solicitor arrived about 30 minutes late to a Wandsworth County Court hearing in August 2023 and fabricated an attendance note to claim he had requested an adjournment. The false note was discovered when LPC Law’s client received the actual...
The FDA: Promoting Quack Nostrums Based on “Incredible Stories” While Rejecting Vaccines Despite Successful RCTs
The U.S. FDA declined to review Moderna's mRNA influenza vaccine, even though two phase‑3 trials involving 43,800 participants demonstrated a 27% efficacy advantage over the standard Fluarix vaccine and a 49% reduction in hospitalizations. FDA officials cited the comparator arm...
Netherlands' Bitcoin Unrealized Gains Tax Sparks Mass Exodus
To be honest, the fact that there's the unrealized gains tax for #Bitcoin in the Netherlands is the dumbest thing I've seen in a long time. The amount of people willing to flee the country is going to be bananas.
Real Equity vs Virtual Shares in Bulgaria: A Corporate Governance Playbook for Employee Incentives
Bulgarian companies are increasingly choosing between real equity and virtual (phantom) shares to motivate staff, each offering distinct governance and tax outcomes. Real equity provides statutory ownership and voting rights but can create minority vetoes and exit‑execution risk. Virtual shares...
IMO Ramps Up Campaign to Close Flag State "Enforcement Gap"
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a two‑year campaign to narrow the enforcement gap that allows a shadow fleet of sanctions‑busting tankers to operate under weak flag‑state oversight. By leveraging its Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), the agency will...
New Law Treats AI and Technology as a "Unique Hazard"
New South Wales passed the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Work Systems) Bill, creating a Digital Work System Duty that obligates employers to ensure algorithms, AI, automation and online platforms do not endanger workers. The legislation follows a similar...
Taylor Swift Asks US Government to Block 'Swift Home' Trademark
Taylor Swift has formally asked the U.S. government to block a bedding company’s attempt to register the "Swift Home" trademark, arguing the stylized cursive resembles her own trademarked signature and could mislead consumers. Her legal team submitted the objection to...
Enhabit, Encompass Health Collect $43.1M From VitalCaring Case
Encompass Health and its spin‑off Enhabit have secured a $43.1 million award in attorneys’ fees and mitigation damages from VitalCaring. A Delaware federal judge ordered that 43% of VitalCaring’s future profits and any exit proceeds be placed in trust and split...
The Shrinking Safe Harbor
The Ninth Circuit in Funko v. Const. Laborers Pension Trust held that a forward‑looking risk disclosure can lose PSLRA safe‑harbor protection when an alleged omission suggests the risk has already materialized. The panel reasoned the disclosure implicitly comments on the...
Trial Supervision System No Longer Impediment in Hong Kong’s Recognition and Enforcement of Chinese Mainland Judgments
Hong Kong courts have now ruled that the Mainland China trial supervision system does not automatically invalidate the recognition and enforcement of Mainland judgments. Recent decisions, notably Sunsco International Holdings Ltd v Lin Chunrong and Huzhou Shenghua Financial Services Co...
The Details of SEQRA Reform
New York Governor‑backed legislation seeks to overhaul the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) by creating targeted exemptions for infill housing projects, mirroring recent California reforms. The bill exempts small residential developments in cities over one million residents and in...
Transparency in Coverage Proposed Rule Aims to Make Price Files More Usable
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a December proposed rule to overhaul the Transparency in Coverage (TiC) machine‑readable files, with implementation slated for 2027. The rule would filter out payment rates that never apply to a...
MSDW Podcast: Understanding 2026 Tax Changes with Avalara's Scott Peterson
Avalara released its 2026 Tax Changes Report, highlighting “off the charts” growth in U.S. transaction taxes. In a sponsored MSDW podcast, Avalara VP Scott Peterson explained how federal income‑tax reforms will affect state tax structures. He noted that many states...
EEOC Warns Agencies Against ‘Blanket Approach’ to Telework Denial
The EEOC and OPM released new technical assistance urging federal agencies not to apply a blanket denial of telework accommodations for employees with disabilities. The guidance stresses that telework decisions must be fact‑specific and comply with the Rehabilitation Act and...
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Senate Cmrc approved the SAT Streamlining bill after RM Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Chr Ted Cruz (R-TX) reached agreement over "deemed granted" prvsn that originally meant FCC had 18 months to rule on a satellite appl or it wld be...
FBI Gathered Intelligence on Reporters, Religious Orgs Using ‘Assessment’ Authority, Watchdog Report Says
The Government Accountability Office reported that the FBI used its “assessment” authority to collect intelligence on more than 1,000 journalists, religious groups and public officials between 2018 and 2024. Assessments permit physical surveillance, grand‑jury subpoenas and human sources without a...