Today's Legal Pulse
DOJ says Title VII disparate impact liability is unconstitutional
The Office of Legal Counsel concluded that disparate impact liability under Title VII violates the Constitution. The Department of Justice echoed this view, declaring employment disparate impact rules unconstitutional.
Also developing:
World Liberty Sues Justin Sun for Defamation in WLFI Dispute
World Liberty Financial filed a defamation lawsuit against Tron founder Justin Sun in Miami‑Dade County, accusing him of false public statements and breaches of WLFI token‑sale terms through prohibited transfers, short‑selling and straw purchases. Sun responded on X calling the suit a meritless PR stunt and vowed to defeat it in court. The filing follows Sun’s earlier lawsuit over the freezing of his WLFI tokens, intensifying scrutiny of the platform’s token‑freeze authority and governance. The dispute also highlights the Trump family’s co‑founder role, adding political attention.
Privacy Experts Demand Narrow Amendments to Overbroad Access Bill
Happy to have added my name to this: "Privacy law scholars and lawyers call for amendments to powers in the new lawful access bill that are overbroad and unlikely to survive Charter scrutiny" https://robertdiab.substack.com/p/an-open-letter-on-bill-c-22
Florida Voters Sue Over Unconstitutional 2026 Congressional Gerrymander
Today, Elias Law Group attorneys, in partnership with the National Redistricting Foundation, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Equal Ground Education Fund and 18 Florida voters to challenge the State’s newly enacted 2026 congressional map. https://elias.law/press-release/florida-voters-challenge-desantiss-unconstitutional-partisan-gerrymander/
Cape Breton Fiddler Ashley MacIsaac Sues Google over Alleged Defamation
Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac has filed a civil suit against Google, claiming an AI‑generated summary falsely identified him as a convicted sex offender and led to a concert cancellation. The lawsuit, lodged in Ontario’s Superior Court, seeks $1.5 million in damages...
United States: Private Equity Sunshine Act (SB 1319)
California legislators are moving forward with SB 1319, the Private Equity Sunshine Act, which would amend the state’s Public Records Act to force detailed disclosures from public‑pension funds and their private‑equity managers. The bill expands reporting to include every general partner,...
One Lawsuit Dismissed Against Ashes of Creation's Steven Sharif, With New Statement As Federal Case Continues
A lawsuit filed by TFE Games Holdings against Ashes of Creation co‑founder Steven Sharif and his husband John Moore was dismissed without prejudice. Sharif announced the dismissal on Discord, calling the claim fabricated and noting the case can be refiled....
National Law Review’s Delaware Corporate and Commercial Litigation Monitor
The National Law Review has released the latest edition of its Delaware Corporate and Commercial Litigation Monitor, edited by Francis Pileggi. The May 2026 issue curates commentary from legal experts nationwide on Delaware corporate law, court of Chancery decisions, and Supreme...
Aderant Momentum 2026: Bringing the Conference to the Community
Aderant Momentum Global 2026 is set to convene law‑firm leaders around AI, analytics, billing performance, and financial operations. The agenda promises deep dives into the business of law and the evolving Aderant ecosystem. Hosted for the ILTA Aderant Community, the...
Complaints Process Failing
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OIAC) launched a privacy‑awareness campaign during Privacy Awareness Week to improve how agencies handle complaints. A new survey shows 93% of Australians consider data protection vital, yet 52% refrain from filing complaints because...
Ohio Threats Case Highlights Federal Focus on Violence Against Public Officials
A New Albany, Ohio man pleaded guilty in federal court for threatening more than 30 public officials, highlighting the Justice Department’s aggressive stance on political intimidation. The case, heard by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison, treats the threats...
Trump Closes San Francisco’s Immigration Court for Good
After more than a year of judge firings and retirements, the San Francisco immigration court at 100 Montgomery Street ceased hearing cases last week, accelerating its planned closure. The bench, once over 20 judges, had dwindled to two, leaving a backlog of...
Google Signs Pentagon AI Deal with Weaker Guardrails than OpenAI, Faces Internal Backlash From 1,000 Employees
Google has inked a Pentagon contract that lets its Gemini AI models operate on classified military networks for any lawful purpose. Unlike OpenAI’s defense deal, the agreement omits strong safeguards and a clause barring mass domestic surveillance, allowing Google to...
Worst Birthday Present Ever
Alabama’s Republican leadership called a special legislative session to redraw the state’s congressional maps, spending roughly $400,000 of taxpayer money on the effort. The move follows a recent Supreme Court decision that weakened the Voting Rights Act, prompting the party...
Kochava Won't Sell 'Sensitive' Location Data Without Consent
Data broker Kochava agreed to stop selling sensitive precise location data without explicit consumer consent, settling FTC privacy charges. The settlement defines sensitive data as GPS coordinates linked to medical, religious, educational, homeless, domestic‑violence, and law‑enforcement sites. Kochava does not...
What to Know About Sony’s $7.85 Million PlayStation Settlement
Sony has agreed to a $7.85 million class‑action settlement over alleged antitrust practices that limited third‑party retailers from selling PlayStation games via digital vouchers. The deal, finally approved after two prior rejections, does not include an admission of wrongdoing but obligates...
SEC Investigating Alleged Fraud in Private Credit, Atkins Says
The SEC announced a probe into alleged fraud across private‑credit firms, signaling heightened regulatory scrutiny of a fast‑growing market. Chairman Paul Atkins emphasized that the agency is coordinating with the Treasury and the Federal Reserve while refusing to name specific...
Court Revives Eli Karp’s Loan-to-Own Claim Against Madison Realty Capital
A Brooklyn appellate court revived Eli Karp’s 2021 lawsuit against Madison Realty Capital, allowing him to pursue claims that the lender engineered a “loan‑to‑own” scheme on his East Flatbush development. Karp alleges Madison bought the mezzanine debt, raised interest rates...
Is Israel’s Interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla Legal?
Israeli naval forces stopped the Gaza‑bound Global Sumud flotilla in international waters off Greece, detaining two activists. The seizure occurred roughly 1,000 km from the Gaza Strip, prompting immediate legal questions about jurisdiction and the right to intercept vessels on the...
Kids Say They Can Beat Age Checks by Drawing on a Fake Mustache
The UK’s Online Safety Act introduced stricter age‑verification rules, but research shows they are easily sidestepped. A survey of over 1,000 children and parents found 46% consider the checks simple to beat, with tactics ranging from fake birthdays to drawing...
Kids Say They Can Beat Age Checks by Drawing on a Fake Mustache
The UK’s Online Safety Act age‑verification measures are being easily circumvented, according to a survey by Internet Matters of over 1,000 children and parents. Nearly half of kids say checks are easy to bypass, with tricks ranging from fake birthdays...
It Ends with This: Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively Settle Lawsuit
Actor‑producer Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively have reached a confidential settlement, ending a lawsuit that was set for trial this month. Lively had sued Baldoni over an alleged retaliatory smear campaign and sexual‑harassment claims tied to their 2024 film...
U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead
The week of May 4‑8 2026 will be dominated by high‑profile regulator appearances, starting with the Milken Institute Conference where SEC Chair Paul Atkins joins CEOs, Treasury and NEC leaders. The SEC’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis will host its 13th...
FDA Expectations Create Potential Friction in New Form 483 Response Guidance
The FDA has issued a draft guidance outlining heightened expectations for Form 483 response submissions, emphasizing greater detail and faster turnaround. Cooley’s life‑sciences regulatory chair, Sonia Nath, warned that these demands could generate friction between regulators and manufacturers. She urged...
The IIA Calls for Stronger Governance, Internal Controls, and Independent Audit Requirements in Prediction Markets
The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has sent formal letters to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and congressional leaders urging stronger oversight of prediction‑market platforms. The IIA recommends embedding formal internal‑control frameworks, independent internal audit functions reporting to boards,...
Virginia AG Renews Bid To Enforce Time Limits For Social Media
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones has renewed a request for the state to enforce its new social‑media age‑verification law, SB 854, which would cap daily use for minors under 16 at one hour without parental consent. A federal judge issued...
Virginia AG Renews Bid To Enforce Time Limits For Social Media
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is pressing the state to enforce SB 854, a law that would require social‑media platforms to verify users' ages and limit anyone under 16 to one hour of daily access without parental consent. In March, U.S....
The Worst Sort of Injustice
The Justice Department has filed a controversial indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, accusing it of supporting white‑supremacist groups through paid informants. Whistleblowers allege that senior officials pressured prosecutors to fast‑track the case despite evidentiary gaps, prompting House Democrats...
Taylor Swift Trademark Applications
Taylor Swift's rights management filed three USPTO trademark applications on April 24, 2026—two sound marks for the phrases “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor,” and a visual mark depicting her stage look with a pink guitar and iridescent...
Sprinklr Wins New York Federal Court Dismissal of Securities Class Action
Sprinklr, the AI‑driven CX platform, secured a dismissal of a securities class action in the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleged the company misled investors about shifting resources from its Core Suite to the newer Sprinklr Service CCaaS...
Coalition Urges FCC to Reverse Ligado-AST SpaceMobile L‑Band Approval
A coalition of aerospace, aviation and weather groups sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging the FCC to rescind its 2020 approval of Ligado Networks' L‑band partnership with AST SpaceMobile. The letter cites Ligado's failure to meet a commercial‑service...
China Invokes Rules to Blunt US Sanctions on ‘Teapot’ Refiners
China invoked its five‑year‑old Blocking Rules for the first time to refuse enforcement of U.S. sanctions on five mainland “teapot” oil refiners, including newly designated Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian). The Ministry of Commerce ordered Chinese companies and banks not to comply...
Pirro Scraps Plan to Appeal the Ruling that Blocked Her Fed Probe
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro abandoned her plan to appeal a judge’s ruling that blocked her criminal probe into the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion renovation cost overruns. The motion to vacate the ruling was filed after the appeal deadline passed, effectively ending...
Singapore Legal Leaders Warn AI Talent Squeeze as One‑Third of New Lawyers Eye Exit
Singapore’s top legal figures told a Supreme Court roundtable that rapid AI adoption and burnout are pushing a third of newly admitted lawyers to consider leaving the profession. The discussion, held alongside the launch of the 2026 Hackathon for a...
McClatchy Media Endorses Patrick Wolff for California Insurance Commissioner Amid Wildfire Crisis
McClatchy Media has endorsed financial analyst and licensed P&C agent Patrick Wolff for California insurance commissioner, arguing his industry expertise is essential as insurers abandon homeowners policies after the 2025 wildfires. The endorsement highlights mounting pressure to modernize Proposition 103 and...
NCLAT Upholds Adani's Rs 14,535 Cr Bid, Dismisses Vedanta's Challenge in Jaypee Insolvency
India's National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) rejected Vedanta's plea against the Committee of Creditors' approval of the Adani Group's Rs 14,535 crore resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates. The tribunal found no merit in Vedanta's seven objections, clearing the way for the...
DOJ Seeks to Erase Ruling, Hints at Future Grand Jury
The DOJ filed today to vacate a federal judge’s ruling tossing out the Fed subpoenas, citing mootness now that the investigation has been suspended. Powell and Tillis flagged this last week. The filing is procedural, aimed at preventing the ruling...
President Opposes Bill Forcing Mega‑Landlords To Sell Rental Homes
Politico: “The president doesn’t support language in the bill that would require mega-landlords to sell single-family homes built as long-term rentals after seven years, the people said.” https://t.co/FBGYezAdJV
Opinions on UK Online Safety Act Emphasize Importance of Enforcement
The UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) has introduced visible parental controls and age‑verification prompts, with 53% of children reporting recent checks on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. However, the Internet Matters report finds that harmful content still reaches minors...
California Alleges State Farm Law Violations Post-2025 LA Wildfires
California says State Farm violated the law in handling of insurance claims after 2025 LA wildfires https://t.co/ZaxKuiQCJW
Predicted Lively/Baldoni Settlement Months Before It Happened
We called this Lively/Baldoni IT ENDS WITH US settlement MONTHS ago on #MMT🌕 Here was my advice from last night’s show https://t.co/33GThwB3oN
From Taylor Swift to Bollywood, Stars Turn to the Civil Courts to Fight Deepfakes
Celebrities from Taylor Swift to Bollywood stars are turning to civil courts to combat deepfake misuse. Swift filed a trademark for her voice and likeness; Indian courts have extended the misappropriation‑of‑personality tort to block deepfake porn and chatbots. Several jurisdictions,...
FCC Mandates Stricter Vetting for All New Robocall Providers
The FCC is expanding our crackdown on illegal robocalls. We just voted on a proposal that would require enhanced vetting before any provider can onboard new callers. These enhaced “Know-Your-Customer” regulations are part of a broader FCC effort to combat illegal calls....
Clarity Ready Technically, Stalled by Political Hurdles
"There are no technical gaps to passing Clarity. But the political challenges now need to be overcome: - we have only one commissioner at the CFTC - ethics [Trump's conflicts]. As we saw with Genius, all the craziness happens at the...
Alight Inc. Faces Securities Fraud Suit; Investors Have Until May 15 to Seek Lead Plaintiff Role
Alight Inc., the NYSE‑listed benefits platform, is embroiled in a securities fraud class action that claims the company misled investors about growth and dividend sustainability. The Rosen Law Firm says shareholders who bought shares between Nov. 12, 2024 and Feb. 18, 2026 must file...
TikTok Drama Ends as Lively, Baldoni Settle Lawsuit
Thank Fucking God. Tik Tok’s hysterical nightmare is over. Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni settle lawsuit over "It Ends With Us" https://t.co/gU0gEnppZx
New Evidence Fuels Massive AG Lawsuit Against Meta
Unsealed evidence posted over the weekend in the 40+ State AGs upcoming child addiction trial (ndcal mdl) v Facebook/Meta/Instagram (as part of summary judgement proceedings). This backchannel as their lawsuits were filed is sort of deadly imho. /1 https://t.co/w960WznqOA
The Government Has Money Set Aside for Women. Ladies Let's Go Get It!
The U.S. federal government must allocate at least 5% of its contracting spend—over $26 billion in FY 2024—to women‑owned small businesses. Certifications such as WOSB, EDWOSB, and state‑level WBE grant access to set‑aside contracts with reduced competition across sectors like IT, healthcare,...
Elon Musk Settles SEC Case for $1.5 Million
JUST IN: Elon Musk to pay $1.5 million in SEC Twitter settlement, down from original $150 million
Section 702 Vote Pushed Back Another Six Weeks Following GOP’s ‘But With Cryptocurrency Ban’ Failure
Congress pushed the reauthorization of the NSA's Section 702 surveillance authority back by roughly six weeks after the House attached a controversial rider banning the Federal Reserve from issuing a digital currency. The House approved a three‑year extension, but the...
‘Justice Sooner’: Victorian Budget Backs Fast-Tracked Youth Court
The Victorian government has allocated $117.5 million AUD (approximately $78 million USD) in the 2026‑27 budget to create a fast‑tracked youth court list and build dedicated youth holding cells at the County Court. Attorney‑General Sonya Kilkenny framed the investment as a cornerstone...