UK Banks on Royal Diplomacy to Soothe a Strained Alliance with Trump
King Charles III will travel to Washington between April 27‑30 for a state visit, the first British monarch to address a joint session of Congress in over three decades. The trip is designed to calm escalating tensions between the United Kingdom and President Donald Trump, who has criticized Britain’s limited support for U.S. strikes on Iran. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, despite earlier refusing U.S. use of the Diego Garcia base, has allowed the visit to proceed, hoping royal pageantry will soften Trump’s stance. The king’s itinerary also faces scrutiny due to Prince Andrew’s ongoing legal controversies.
Spain’s Temporary Worker Workaround Runs Into EU Wall
Spain’s Supreme Court sought EU guidance on its “indefinite” temporary‑contract workaround, but the EU Court of Justice rejected the approach, stating that capped compensation and hybrid contracts do not meet EU labor‑law standards. The ruling emphasizes that temporary contracts may...
OpenAI Can’t Duck Federal Claims over Murder-Suicide Tied to ChatGPT
A U.S. federal judge denied OpenAI's motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company, its CEO Samuel Altman, and related entities are liable for a murder‑suicide linked to ChatGPT. The case, filed by the estate of Stein‑Erik Soelberg, claims the...
Spirit Airlines Loses Fight Against TSA Fees on Canceled Flights
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Spirit Airlines must surrender $2.8 million in security service fees it retained from passengers who canceled flights. The panel held that under 49 U.S.C. § 44940, any amount collected must be remitted to the Transportation...
Alabama Supreme Court Limits Reporter Privilege in NY Times Lawsuit
The Alabama Supreme Court narrowed the state’s 1936 reporter shield law, limiting protection to a source’s name and any information that would inevitably reveal that identity. The decision arose from former University of Alabama basketball player Kai Spears’ defamation suit...
Nevada Supreme Court Rules Against Michele Fiore in Suspension Case
The Nevada Supreme Court rejected former Nye County justice of the peace Michele Fiore’s challenge to her suspension, confirming the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline’s authority to act. Fiore, who was convicted of wire fraud and later pardoned by former...
Roblox Looks to Dodge Iowa Suit over Danger to Children
Roblox asked an Iowa judge to dismiss a consumer‑fraud lawsuit that accuses the platform of exposing children to predators and illicit content. The company relies on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, arguing it is merely a carrier of third‑party...
Military Families Argue Injuries From Hawaii Jet Fuel Water Crisis Weren’t Service-Related
In 2021 a fuel leak from the Navy’s Red Hill storage facility contaminated the water supply for residents of Oahu, including families living in military housing. Service members who were exposed are suing, arguing the injuries occurred outside the scope...
Judge Says Navy Must Release Records Related to Sailor Acquitted of USS Bonhomme Richard Arson
A federal judge in California ordered the U.S. Navy to turn over the full record of the military court proceedings involving former sailor Ryan Mays, who was acquitted of aggravated arson for the 2020 fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard. The...
Washington State Millionaire Tax Faces Legal Challenge
Washington enacted a 9.9% income tax on earnings above $1 million, slated for 2028. A coalition of business owners and interest groups filed a lawsuit claiming the measure breaches the state constitution's uniform‑tax and 1% cap provisions. The revenue is earmarked...
Uber Defends Subscription Service Charges Against FTC
A federal judge scrutinized Uber's disclosure of its Uber One subscription, questioning whether the company meets the clear‑language and accessibility standards required by the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA). The FTC alleges Uber makes canceling the $9.99 monthly service...
Wisconsin Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Online Sports Betting Run by Tribes
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed a bill that legalizes online sports betting, but restricts it to platforms operated on tribal land and governed by tribal gaming compacts. The legislation adds an exception to the state’s definition of a bet, allowing...
Ex-Illinois House Speaker Spins Wheels in Appeal of Corruption Conviction
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, convicted on ten corruption charges and sentenced to 7½ years, is appealing his conviction before the Seventh Circuit. His lawyers argue the jury instructions were vague and failed to require a specific quid pro...
Planned Parenthood Takes Nevada Abortion Law to State Supreme Court
Planned Parenthood asked Nevada’s Supreme Court to block a 1985 law that forces minors to obtain parental notification or a judicial bypass before an abortion, arguing the statute is unconstitutionally vague. The law was previously declared unconstitutional in 1991, meaning...
CBS Beats Former News Anchor’s Suit Claiming He Was Replaced for Being White
CBS Broadcasting won a summary judgment in former anchor Jeff Vaughn's lawsuit alleging he was fired for being an older, white, heterosexual male. U.S. District Judge Hernán Vera ruled there was no evidence race motivated the decision, noting CBS was...
Civil Trial over LAPD Shooting of 14-Year-Old Girl Begins
The wrongful‑death civil trial over the 2021 LAPD shooting that killed 14‑year‑old Valentina Peralta began in Los Angeles. Plaintiffs claim Officer William Jones ignored senior‑officer commands and fired an AR‑15, causing a ricochet that struck the girl, while the city...
Iowa Sues Instagram over Harm to Youngsters
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit against Meta, accusing Instagram of misrepresenting its age‑rating on app stores while exposing minors to pornography, profanity, drug and alcohol content. The complaint says Meta answered "infrequent" for harmful categories yet rated...
Fort Bragg Veteran Charged with Releasing Classified Information to a Journalist
U.S. Army Special Operations veteran Courtney Williams was indicted after a federal grand jury found she transmitted Secret‑level information about a Fort Bragg special‑forces unit to investigative journalist Seth Harp. The leaked tactics, techniques and procedures appeared in Harp’s Rolling...
Trump Asks New York’s Top Court to Toss Civil Fraud Judgment
President Donald Trump filed a 119‑page brief with New York’s Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn the roughly $500 million civil fraud judgment stemming from Letitia James’s 2022 lawsuit. The appeal argues the Attorney General lacked authority and that the case...
Second Circuit Upholds Dismissal of ‘Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker’ Libel Suit Against Rolling Stone
A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Caleb McGillvary’s defamation suit against Rolling Stone. The court found the magazine’s statements either protected opinion or lacked the actual‑malice showing...
Fourth Circuit Sides with West Virginia in Religious Challenge to Vaccine Mandates
The Fourth Circuit panel rejected a West Virginia family's religious challenge to the state's school vaccine mandate, affirming that the law serves a compelling public‑health interest. The court relied on historic precedents such as Jacobson v. Massachusetts, emphasizing that neutral,...
‘Free Land Holders’ Barred From Bringing Phones to Court
A federal judge has ordered that members of the activist group “Free Land Holders” may not bring any mobile phones into the courtroom for an upcoming trial. The ruling applies to defendants, witnesses and their support personnel, citing concerns over...
California Supreme Court Halts Riverside County Ballot Investigation
The California Supreme Court ordered Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco to stop his investigation into the November special election that enacted Proposition 50, which redrew the state’s congressional districts. The court mandated that all seized items, including roughly 650,000 ballots, be...
T.J. Puchyr’s Company Punches Back at Legacy Motor Club with Counterclaims
T.J. Puchyr’s consulting firm Rucus Racing filed counterclaims against Legacy Motor Club in a North Carolina state court, seeking dismissal of Legacy’s lawsuit and a transfer to business court. Legacy had sued Puchyr for allegedly inducing a breach of a...
Judge Lets Berkeley Resume Homeless Camp Evictions but Orders Certain Disability Accommodations
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen issued a 74‑page order that lets Berkeley resume clearing a long‑standing homeless encampment because of a serious leptospirosis risk, but the ruling stops short of requiring the city to secure housing before evictions. The judge...
Judge Upholds Ex-Milwaukee Judge’s ICE Obstruction Conviction
Former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan’s federal felony conviction for obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers was upheld by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman. A jury had found her guilty after she intervened in an April 2025 attempt...
Malicious Prosecution Claims Fail for Man Charged with Murdering Wife
A 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel affirmed a district court’s dismissal of Barry Morphew’s malicious prosecution lawsuit against Chaffee County officials who first charged him with his wife’s murder. The court found his claims lacked probable cause, despite...
Eighth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Antitrust Claims Against Bayer CropScience
The Eighth Circuit unanimously upheld a district court’s dismissal of a class‑action antitrust lawsuit filed by 28 farmers against Bayer CropScience and 15 other agricultural manufacturers. The court ruled the plaintiffs failed to plausibly allege parallel conduct, invoking the Supreme...
Judge Grants Bond for Man Acquitted of Jam Master Jay Murder, Issues Warning: ‘I Don’t Play’
A federal judge granted a $1 billion bond for Karl Jordan Jr., the man whose 2024 murder conviction for hip‑hop legend Jam Master Jay was overturned after the court found the government failed to prove a drug‑related motive. The ruling leaves...
Russia and Ukraine Trade Deadly Strikes as Zelenskyy Travels to Istanbul for Talks with Erdogan
Russia launched 286 drones overnight, with Ukraine shooting down 260, while both sides exchanged deadly strikes that killed ten civilians and wounded dozens across Nikopol, Sumy, Kyiv and occupied regions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Istanbul for talks with...
Anti-Truancy Rule Unsafe for This Student?
A federal judge issued an injunction against a school district’s anti‑truancy rule after determining it endangered a student with a chronic medical condition. The court found the policy violated due‑process rights by threatening removal without individualized assessment. The ruling mandates...
Greek Government Under Fire as New Farm Scandal Cases Emerge
European prosecutors are expanding an investigation into Greece’s ruling New Democracy party, probing 20 lawmakers for alleged fraud involving EU farm subsidies. The scandal, first disclosed in May, centers on false land claims and inflated livestock numbers, with most dubious...
In Hawaii Trial, Navy Fights Claim of Ongoing Fuel Spill Risk
The U.S. Navy faces a federal trial over alleged ongoing petroleum discharges from pipelines at Pearl Harbor, stemming from the 2021 Red Hill fuel spill that contaminated Oahu’s water supply. Plaintiffs, led by the Wai Ola Alliance, argue that the Navy’s...
Judge Sends Two Montana Logging Projects Back to the Forest Service
A federal magistrate judge halted two Montana timber projects—the Gold Butterfly logging plan in Bitterroot National Forest and the Round Star Vegetation Management Project in Flathead National Forest—citing deficiencies in the Forest Service’s environmental analyses. The court ordered a supplemental...
Judge Dismisses Foster Kids’ Suit Against Alaska
A federal judge dismissed the Alaska foster‑care class action, finding none of the five named plaintiffs had standing to sue over alleged violations of the ADA, due‑process rights, and the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act. The decision overturns a...
California Judge Issues Injunction Blocking Feds From Freezing $10 Billion in Child Care Funding
U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a tentative injunction halting the federal government’s attempt to freeze roughly $10 billion in child‑care, housing, and welfare grants for five Democratic‑led states. The judge found the administration likely lacked legal authority and offered no...
Decadelong Fight over Yuba River Dams Ends in Favor of Feds
U.S. District Judge Daniel Calabretta ruled that the historic Daguerre and Englebright dams on California's Yuba River are not agency actions under the Endangered Species Act, granting summary judgment to the Army Corps and NMFS. The decision ends a decade‑long...
Amazon Wins Partial Dismissal in Alexa Wiretapping Class Action
A Seattle federal judge partially dismissed a class action accusing Amazon of misleading users about Alexa’s "false wake" recordings, dropping Washington consumer‑protection claims but allowing wiretap claims in Florida, Maryland and federal court to proceed. The court found Amazon’s disclosures...
Top Democrat Presses DHS Secretary Mullin on Judicial Warrants
Secretary Markwayne Mullin, sworn in as DHS head, faces Senate scrutiny over whether he has rescinded the 2025 guidance that let ICE and Border Patrol agents enter homes using administrative warrants instead of judicial ones. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked...
Penn Ordered to Give Government Jewish Employee List, Despite Nazi Comparisons
A federal judge ordered the University of Pennsylvania to provide the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with a list of its Jewish faculty and staff, including personal contact details, after the EEOC issued a subpoena alleging a pattern of antisemitic harassment....
California Governor Issues Executive Order About AI
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order tightening AI procurement standards and requiring new safeguards for companies seeking state contracts. The order expands the state’s existing AI transparency framework, mandating vetting of bias controls, illegal‑content safeguards, and civil‑rights protections....
Judge Challenges California Bid to Withhold Students’ Gender Identity in Suspected Abuse Cases
California asked a federal judge to let public‑school teachers withhold LGBTQ students' preferred gender identities from parents when abuse is suspected. Judge Roger Benitez rejected the request, upholding his earlier injunction that parental rights trump any school‑level disclosure exception. The...
Stranded Airline Passengers Ask Fifth Circuit to Restore Damage Claims Against CrowdStrike
Passengers stranded by a July 2024 worldwide software outage have asked the Fifth Circuit to revive a proposed class action against cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The lawsuit alleges CrowdStrike’s faulty update crippled airline IT systems, causing massive flight delays and seeking...
Nebraska Judge Allows Feds to Continue Using Prison Facility for ICE Detention
A Nebraska district judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s decision to allow a former minimum‑custody prison, the Work Ethic Camp, to serve as an ICE detention center. The ruling affirmed Governor Jim Pillen’s authority to contract with the federal...
NYPD Reality Show, Produced by Dr. Phil’s Son, Can Be Released After Settlement with NYC
A settlement was reached in federal court allowing the release of "Behind the Badge," a nine‑episode NYPD reality series produced by Jordan McGraw, son of Dr. Phil. The city approved the edited footage after concerns that raw cuts exposed undercover...
College Athlete Challenges NCAA Eligibility Rule
A University of California football senior, Aidan Keanaaina, has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA, challenging its Five‑Year Rule that caps eligibility at four seasons within five years. Keanaaina argues the rule suppresses competition and limits his ability...
Detroit Cops Suppressed Evidence
A federal judge ruled that Detroit police officers deliberately suppressed exculpatory evidence in a criminal case, breaching the constitutional Brady obligation to disclose favorable material. The court ordered the immediate release of the withheld evidence and signaled possible sanctions against...
Golden State Legislator Calls for $80 Million to Help Public Media
California Assemblymember Chris Ward introduced a proposal to inject a one‑time $80 million infusion into the state’s public‑media ecosystem, allocating $60 million to stations, $10 million to infrastructure and $10 million to ethnic outlets. The plan also includes tax credits for qualifying news organizations...
Vaccine Injury Claims Face Ticking Clock After EU Ruling
The EU’s top court clarified that under EU product liability law the limitation period for vaccine injury claims begins when the damage is identifiable, not when the illness stabilizes, and that a hard 10‑year cut‑off applies from the product’s market...
DOJ May Have Disclosed Secret Grand Jury Material to Congress, Violated Judicial Gag Order in Trump Classified Documents Case
The Justice Department unintentionally supplied Congress with sealed grand‑jury material in the Trump classified‑documents case, potentially violating a January 2025 gag order issued by Judge Aileen Cannon. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jamie Raskin says the documents include a classified map...