Pentagon 'Punishing' Anthropic Would Be Illegal, Judge Says

By Bonnie Eslinger

A California federal judge considering Anthropic's request to block the U.S. Department of Defense from labeling it a supply chain national security risk said Tuesday that it looks like the government is "punishing" Anthropic for bringing public attention to their contract fight, a move that would violate the First Amendment.

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Gulf Reinsurance Plan Could Help China, Lawmaker Says

By Gianna Ferrarin

The ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sought more information about the U.S. International Development Finance Corp.'s plan to provide up to $20 billion in maritime reinsurance in the Persian Gulf region, expressing concern that China could be the proposal's "greatest direct beneficiary."

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SDNY Reaches $318M Deal For Victims Of Iran-Linked Terror

By Ganesh Setty

Hundreds of terror attack victims with judgments against Iran will now receive $318 million as part of a settlement stemming from the federal government's forfeiture action against a 36-story Midtown Manhattan office tower linked to the Iranian government.

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Judicial Conference Backs Latest Judge Newman Suspension

By Jack Karp

The federal judiciary on Tuesday upheld the latest extension of Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman's suspension and the decision not to transfer her case to another circuit, finding neither to be unconstitutional.

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EU, Australia Reach Major Free Trade Deal, Cut Tariffs

By Jack McLoone

The European Union and Australia on Tuesday agreed to terms of a free trade deal that would nearly zero out tariffs on trade between them following eight years of negotiations.

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Rubio Says He Didn't Know Of Friend's Venezuelan Oil Deal

By Carolina Bolado

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio would not have met with an old friend, former Rep. David Rivera, to discuss a government transition in Venezuela had he known Rivera's company had a contract with a subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Rubio told jurors Monday.

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Latvian Gets 28 Months For Shipping Avionics To Russia

By Craig Clough

A Latvian national was sentenced to 28 months in prison by a Kansas federal judge for helping Russians evade U.S. export controls issued after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war and obtain U.S. avionics equipment, according to a filing Monday.

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No Trade Secrets In Allegedly Stolen Docs, Ex-Employee Says

By Ganesh Setty

A field engineer accused by his former employer of stealing competitively sensitive information urged a Virginia federal court to toss its claims under federal and state trade secrets laws, saying the government contractor failed to identify particular trade secrets.

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Minn. Says Feds Must Share ICE Shootings Evidence

By Hailey Konnath

The state of Minnesota and Hennepin County on Tuesday asked a D.C. federal court to block the Trump administration from withholding evidence related to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the nonfatal shooting of another Minnesotan at the hands of federal agents, calling its noncooperation "unprecedented."

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Brief

Citibank Wins Order To Arbitrate Military Lending Case

By Elaine Briseño

A North Carolina federal judge paused a military consumer lawsuit against Citibank NA over misleading information about interest and fees after the Fourth Circuit determined that the arbitration agreements were enforceable.

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Changes Coming To The SBIR And STTR Programs

Legislation recently approved by Congress to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs includes changes focused on national security that would improve transparency but also increase applicants' administrative burdens, slow the awards process and likely increase litigation, say attorneys at Fluet & Associates.

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DOJ Says Gov't Attys Can't Be Punished Over ICE's Actions

By Ryan Boysen

The Trump administration says a Minnesota federal judge erred by holding a government attorney in contempt after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement flouted a court order, claiming the lawyer was "wrongfully held captive to induce ICE's compliance."

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Goldstein Seeks New Trial, Citing 'A Series Of Legal Errors'

By Emily Sawicki

SCOTUSblog founder and appellate icon Thomas Goldstein has filed a lengthy motion for a new trial or acquittal after his conviction on a dozen criminal charges related to tax evasion, alleging his trial was marred by improper jury instructions, improper exclusion of evidence and inadequate evidence, among other things.

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Analysis

Fraud Task Force May Boost White Collar Defense Work

By Phillip Bantz

A new federal anti-fraud task force involving at least a dozen federal agencies could soon expose more state and local governments, contractors, companies and others to compliance risks, particularly in healthcare fraud and False Claims Act cases, experts say.

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Fla. Judge Faces Discipline For Remark About Shooting Attys

By David Minsky

A Florida state judge is facing a public reprimand after admitting to becoming frustrated with attorneys in an estate dispute and saying that he "would like to tell the deputy to pull his gun and shoot all three of you," according to records filed Tuesday in the state's high court.

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Senate Confirms Chief Of New DOJ Fraud Division

By Courtney Bublé

The U.S. Senate voted 52-47, along party lines, on Tuesday to confirm Colin McDonald to the newly created assistant attorney general for fraud role.

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Reed Smith's Silence On Depo 'Speaks Volumes,' Ex-Atty Says

By Jake Maher

A former Reed Smith LLP attorney suing the firm for underpaying her based on her gender criticized the firm for its "inexcusable delay and attempted meandering" in seeking to resume deposing her years after her last deposition date.

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Beasley Allen Says NJ Justices Review Of Talc DQ 'Essential'

By George Woolston

Beasley Allen urged the New Jersey Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lower court's decision to disqualify it from representing plaintiffs in multicounty litigation over Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder, arguing that the court's immediate review of the interlocutory order is "essential."

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