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
EB-2 NIW Case Study: Doctor From Uruguay Approved to Improve Healthcare Access Through Telemedicine
Colombo & Hurd secured an EB‑2 National Interest Waiver for a Uruguayan physician whose AI‑driven telemedicine platform aims to close care gaps in underserved U.S. regions. USCIS initially issued an RFE questioning the national impact, but the attorney reorganized existing evidence to highlight scalability and system‑wide benefits. The petition was approved, granting the doctor I‑140 status and clearing the path for broader deployment of remote‑care tools. The case underscores how targeted immigration strategies can accelerate health‑tech innovation.
OCR Announces HIPAA Enforcement Action Against Self-Funded Group Health Plan
The Office for Civil Rights announced a HIPAA enforcement action against a self‑funded group health plan, imposing a $245,000 civil penalty and a two‑year corrective action plan. The violation stemmed from a deficient risk analysis, a core requirement of the...
SES Email Accounts Monitored in Attempt to Uncover Media Leaks
The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) monitored the email inboxes of Senior Executive Service (SES) officers from October to December 2024 to detect possible media leaks. DPS described the surveillance as an “assurance mechanism” designed to stop sensitive material from...
Gas Prices, Ghislaine Maxwell and the Comey Case Falling Apart in Real Time
Todd Blanche’s remarks on *Meet the Press* effectively undercut the James Comey indictment, prompting legal scholars to label the case frivolous and warn of potential criminal liability for prosecutors. Paul Butler compared a recent Supreme Court voting‑rights ruling to historic...
Execution, Not Complexity, Is the New Moat
$11B product… rebuilt in 2 weeks. Harvey is valued at $11B. Legora at $5.5B. But their core experience isn’t magic it’s execution. A developer tested this idea and rebuilt a similar app in just two weeks using Claude. Assistant, projects, tabular reviews, workflows...
UK Allows Airlines to Pre‑Cancel Flights Weeks Ahead Amid Fuel Shortage Fears
Britain's transport secretary announced new rules that let airlines cancel or merge flights weeks ahead to conserve jet fuel amid Middle East supply disruptions. The move aims to protect valuable airport slots and keep summer travel on track.
Just in Time for Labour Day, China Makes It Illegal to Fire Humans if AI Takes Their Jobs
China’s Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court ruled it illegal to dismiss a worker simply because AI can perform his duties, establishing a new labor‑law precedent just before Labour Day. Samsung Electronics reported a record Q1 2025 revenue of $90.9 billion and profit of...
Just in Time for Labour Day, China Makes It Illegal to Fire Humans if AI Takes Their Jobs
China’s Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court ruled that dismissing employees because AI can perform their duties is illegal, setting a precedent for labor protection amid rapid automation. Samsung Electronics reported a record Q1 2025 profit of $39.9 bn, fueled by soaring memory...
FCC Clears 17 Bidders, Including SpaceX, for June AWS‑3 Mid‑Band 5G Auction
The FCC Office of Economics and Analytics announced that 17 companies, including the three national wireless carriers and SpaceX, have been cleared to bid in the AWS‑3 auction starting June 2. The qualification resolves earlier filing deficiencies and sets the...
Chatswood Restaurant Faces Potential $99k Penalty for Ignoring a Fair Work Notice
The Fair Work Ombudsman has sued PE Jayz, operator of Cedar Dough Bakery and Pizza Bar in Chatswood, and its director Jalila Assaf, alleging underpayment of a 22‑year‑old casual worker. The regulator says the business failed to pay casual loading,...
BigLaw Firms Grapple with 13‑minute Word Delays, Sparking a Tech Overhaul
A viral associate post revealed that opening a single Word document in NetDocuments now takes 13 minutes, exposing a productivity drain across elite law firms. The delay, compounded by sluggish search latency and integration woes, is driving firms to accelerate...
NAMIC Issues Analysis to Counter Algorithmic‑Bias Bills Targeting Insurers' AI
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) published a new report that refutes five common myths behind state‑level algorithmic‑bias bills. The analysis arrives as 18 states debate AI legislation and NAIC regulators prepare tighter AI standards, underscoring potential regulatory...
Judge Criticizes Musk’s Legal Tactics as $130 B OpenAI Trial Enters First Week
Federal Judge James Donato rebuked senior counsel Marc Toberoff for an off‑track legal strategy in Elon Musk’s $130 bn lawsuit against OpenAI, while Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers steers the first week of the high‑profile trial in Oakland. The early proceedings have...
Roblox Rolls Out Age‑Based Accounts and Mandatory Facial Scans for Indonesian Kids
Roblox announced a global rollout of age‑based account tiers and expanded parental controls, while in Indonesia it will require facial scans to verify users under 16. The changes impact roughly 45 million Indonesian users, including 23 million children, and follow new local...
Supreme Court Undermines Voting Rights—Choose Media Reflecting Your Values
Both Democracy Docket and the New York Times did long analysis pieces on the Supreme Court's decision gutting the Voting Rights Act. The media you consume is a statement of your values. Support Democracy Docket by subscribing today. https://bit.ly/4meZPiV
EU Sweep Finds 30% of Online Retailers Misleading Discount Claims
A coordinated EU consumer‑protection sweep uncovered that roughly 30% of 356 online retailers in 27 countries displayed illegal discount practices during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The findings, led by the European Commission and 25 national authorities, highlight systemic pricing...
DJI Drone Sales Banned in Beijing and US Over Security Fears
DJI's flagship drones are now prohibited from sale in Beijing and blocked from new US authorisation after the Chinese capital and the FCC cited security risks. The bans threaten $1.5 billion of projected US revenue and could curtail the company's global...
White ICE Employee Files Unexpected Reverse Discrimination Claim
The Bias Complaint Nobody Expected at ICE A white employee at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed a race discrimination claim in 2026, alleging disparate treatment in a federal environment shaped by the Trump administration's anti-DEI executive orders. The case lands...
Double Standards: AI Errors vs Corporate Document Shredding
There's a massive amount of harumphing when some random lawyer uses AI and hallucinates a citation, but when Amazon's chief lawyer and Jeff Bezos knowingly destroying documents and get sanctioned by a job, yawn.
Judicial Notice (05.03.26): Spirited Away
James Comey was re‑indicted this week after an Instagram post of seashells allegedly threatened President Trump, a charge many legal scholars say rests on shaky First‑Amendment precedent. The indictment was signed by interim U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle, a Trump‑aligned...
Sandro Marcos Says These 2 Priority Bills up for Final Approval in House
The Philippine House of Representatives is set to give final approval to two Legislative‑Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority bills—the National Land Use Act and amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act—during its first plenary session after a...
New Cuba Sanctions Expansion: Broader Targets, Secondary Risk, and Compliance Implications
On May 1, 2026 President Donald Trump issued an executive order that dramatically widens U.S. sanctions on Cuba. The order adds sector‑based designations, targets individuals involved in corruption or human‑rights abuses, and introduces secondary sanctions against foreign banks that facilitate transactions for...
Profitable Asset Purchases in Spirit Bankruptcy Count as Exorcism
Buying only the profitable assets in the spirit bankruptcy would legally be considered an exorcism
On This Day in 2017, the Eagles Sued a Mexican “Hotel California” For Allegedly Cashing in on Their Iconic Hit
In 2017 the Eagles filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Central District of California against Hotel California Baja LLC, a Mexican hotel that marketed itself as the "legendary" venue referenced in the band’s 1977 hit. The band alleged the hotel...
Jurisdiction Fight Takes Center Stage in S.D. Florida Case 4:25-Cv-10037
On April 27, 2026, the defendant in Southern District of Florida case 4:25‑cv‑10037 filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, targeting the amended complaint and related notice of removal. The motion argues that the pleading fails to satisfy...
HIPAA Security Rule Updates: What Healthcare Administrators Need to Know
The Department of Health and Human Services will finalize a revised HIPAA Security Rule by May 2026, turning many previously addressable safeguards into mandatory requirements. Key updates mandate access controls, visitor management, network segmentation and a comprehensive risk‑analysis process. HHS estimates...
Law Values
Morbid but real law fact: The law values a human life differently depending on where the person dies. Wrongful-death payouts vary wildly by jurisdiction, income, and age.
The Spotify TOS Trap: How Platforms Avoid Public Law Justice for Payola
A federal court sent the Capolongo v. Spotify payola lawsuit to private arbitration, avoiding a public ruling on Discovery Mode’s legality. The case highlights how Spotify’s Terms of Service embed arbitration clauses and class‑action waivers that shield the platform from...
Reining in Predatory Lenders a Good Idea
Kenyan MPs are moving to curb predatory lending by amending legislation to enforce the in duplum rule, which limits total interest and penalties to the original loan principal. The Treasury proposes raising fines for Banking Act violations from Sh500,000 (≈$3,300)...
PTA Grants 21 District Licenses to Accelerate Local Internet Expansion in Pakistan
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) approved 21 district‑level class licenses for internet service providers, each lasting ten years. Licensees must launch services within a year and deliver at least 100 broadband connections, a move aimed at narrowing the country's digital...
Colorado Senate Pushes SB 189 to Lighten AI Rules for Legal‑Tech Firms
Colorado Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez unveiled Senate Bill 189, a bill that replaces the heavy‑handed 2024 AI law with a notice‑based framework and a split‑liability model. The change aims to reduce compliance costs for AI‑driven legal‑tech providers while preserving...
Sweden Implements 2026 Social Security Overhaul, Redefining Payroll and HR Compliance
The Swedish government has rolled out 2026 social security reforms that digitize contributions, extend parental leave and tighten payroll reporting. Employers—especially foreign entrants—must revamp payroll systems and compliance processes, while HRTech vendors see a surge in demand for automation tools.
Purdue Pharma's $7.4 B Settlement Finalizes OxyContin Shutdown
Purdue Pharma has finalized a $7.4 billion settlement that ends its Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shuts down the OxyContin maker. The deal resolves over 2,600 civil claims and marks one of the largest pharmaceutical liability payouts in U.S. history.
Turn Late Payments Into Legal Action with Playbook
getting paid on time is a legal issue. the Chasing Payments Playbook in @thelegalmigalibrary walks you through exactly what to do when a client ghosts, disputes, or just... doesn't pay. it's brand new. and it's only available to Library Card members. this week...
FAA Implements 25‑Cent‑per‑Pound Launch and Re‑entry Fees, Capping at $30K
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has activated a fee of 25 cents per pound of payload for all launches and re‑entries, with a $30,000 cap for 2026. The structure will rise to $1.50 per pound and a $200,000 cap by 2033,...
U.S. Banking Trade Groups Ask Treasury to Pause GENIUS Act Stablecoin Rules
The American Bankers Association, the Bank Policy Institute and two other trade groups wrote to the Treasury and the FDIC on April 22 asking for an extended comment period on three GENIUS Act stablecoin rules until the OCC finalizes its...
How Consistency on LinkedIn Makes a Brand More Authentic
Law firms that post regularly on LinkedIn build a more authentic brand and earn greater client trust. Consistent updates keep the firm visible and position it as a reliable authority in its practice areas. The article argues that imperfect, human‑focused...
Supreme Court Overturns VRA; Rally Behind SAVE Act
Lawyer here, explaining the bad news about the Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court just killed the law. All the energy around the SAVE Act, direct it to the VRA right now. I'm going to explain what happened. It's hard...
Indonesia Moves to Strengthen Right to Be Forgotten in Human Rights Law Revision
Indonesia is amending its Human Rights Law to embed a right‑to‑be‑forgotten, allowing citizens to request removal of outdated or inaccurate online content. The proposal, announced by Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, mandates court oversight to balance individual privacy with public...
Should Surrogates Be Paid for Carrying Other People’s Babies? And How Much Would Be Enough?
The Australian Law Reform Commission is reviewing the nation’s surrogacy framework, which currently permits only altruistic arrangements with expense reimbursements. The review explores a compensated model that would pay surrogates a standardized monthly fee, referencing international practices such as U.S....
Supreme Court Dismantles Voting Rights Act; Join Fight
This week, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in a devastating 6-3 decision. If you're as furious as I am, I hope you will consider joining our team. We are hiring experienced attorneys to help our clients fight...
NY AG: Coinbase Misreads Wire Act Safe Harbor
The New York AG's Office calls out Coinbase for falsely insinuating that the Wire Act 'safe harbor' provision insulates 'wagers' across states where betting is legal. The Wire Act safe harbor (1084(b)) extends only to "information," not the wagers themselves....
Certainty vs Flexibility – Does the UK Need a Biometric Surveillance Act?
The UK’s Metropolitan Police recently lost a legal challenge over its use of live facial recognition (LFR), underscoring the uncertainty surrounding biometric surveillance. At the same time, Hammersmith and Fulham Council announced AI‑enabled CCTV that will automatically enrol individuals onto...
Tax Shadow over Charitable Trusts with 'Profit' Motive
India’s tax department has revoked Section 12AB registrations for several high‑profile charitable trusts, including three Mumbai hospitals and an international spiritual organization, citing commercial activities and high profit margins. The cancellations, effective March 2026, mean any surplus will be taxed as business...
Pirro Appears to Drop Plans to Appeal Criminal Investigation of Fed Chair Powell
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro signaled she will no longer appeal the district court ruling that blocked her subpoenas in the criminal probe of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, opting instead for a motion to vacate the order. The appeal deadline...
Inquiry Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell Could Be Resurrected, Jeanine Pirro Says
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicated on Sunday that the Justice Department could revive its criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which was halted last month. The probe centered on alleged misconduct surrounding a renovation of the Fed’s headquarters amid President...
"Martial Home"
Eugene Volokh points out a recurring typo in U.S. case law where "marital home" is mistakenly written as "martial home." A quick Westlaw search reveals the error appears in more than 600 judicial opinions. Volokh jokes that the mistake may...
UN Experts Criticise Removal of Peru Judge for Defence of Judicial Independence in the Country
UN human‑rights experts condemned the removal of Peruvian Judge Oswaldo Ordóñez Alcántara, accusing authorities of retaliating against his defence of judicial independence and his criticism of legislative reforms. The National Board of Justice launched a preliminary investigation, alleging a breach...
Autonomy Differs From Independence: Only Autonomous Bodies Testify
Autonomy and Independence are not the same thing. Independent entities are not required to testify to Congress 2X annually. Autonomous entities are…
FTC’s Ad-Agency Boycott Settlement Puts Brand-Safety Coordination Under Antitrust Scrutiny
The Federal Trade Commission settled antitrust claims with three global ad agencies—WPP, Publicis and Dentsu—over a coordinated brand‑safety boycott that steered ad spend away from publishers deemed politically objectionable. The FTC argues that the agencies’ joint standards cross from legitimate...