Public Policy

  • October 30, 2025

    Wash. Justices Reinstate $185M Monsanto PCB Verdict

    The Washington State Supreme Court has restored a $185 million jury verdict against Monsanto in the first of a series of chemical poisoning trials tied to a Washington state school site, finding a lower appellate court misapplied choice-of-law principles when overturning the win for three school teachers.

  • October 30, 2025

    Pa. Justice Dougherty Took On Abortion, Gun Rights, Voting

    As he faces a vote on Election Day over whether he should be retained for a second 10-year term on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Justice Kevin Dougherty is leaning on a record that includes key opinions over voting rights, abortion, gun control, and immunity for public officials.

  • October 29, 2025

    FDIC's Hill To Cite Reform Focus, Experience At Senate Vetting

    Acting Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Travis Hill plans to kick off his Thursday pitch for U.S. Senate confirmation by stressing priorities that have included sharpening the agency's focus on "material financial risks" and strengthening its readiness to handle major bank failures.

  • October 29, 2025

    Bank Groups Press 5th Circ. To Rehear OCC In-House Case

    Banking industry groups have urged the Fifth Circuit to revisit a panel decision allowing federal regulators to try banking enforcement cases in-house, arguing the ruling was wrong and risks stripping thousands of banks and millions of bankers of their right to a jury trial.

  • October 29, 2025

    DOE's Data Center Proposal May Spark Grid Policy Turf War

    The Trump administration's push to convince the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to enable the connection of data centers to the interstate transmission system may ignite a legal turf war with states over their authority to regulate retail electricity sales.

  • October 29, 2025

    Character.AI Will Ban Underage Users From Using Chatbot

    Amid multiple lawsuits over the suicides of at least four teenagers, Character.AI announced Wednesday that it is taking "extraordinary steps" to restrict minors' access to its flagship artificial intelligence chatbot.

  • October 29, 2025

    Ill. Dem Candidate, Others Indicted Over Blocking ICE Vehicle

    Federal prosecutors have hit a Democratic congressional candidate and five others with an indictment in Illinois federal court, alleging they violated federal laws by blocking a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent's vehicle during a September protest outside an ICE facility in suburban Chicago.

  • October 29, 2025

    5th Circ. Backs Texas County's Redistricting Plan

    The Fifth Circuit on Wednesday refused to block a redistricting plan in Texas that a group of voters alleges disenfranchises minority voters, ruling in a published opinion that the voters failed to show any intentional race discrimination by the Lone Star State's Tarrant County.

  • October 29, 2025

    Ex-Chicago Alderman's Aide Pleads Guilty In Bribery Case

    The chief of staff to former Chicago City council member Carrie Austin admitted Wednesday he misappropriated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds in a criminal case that also accused him and Austin of accepting benefits from contractors seeking city assistance for a development project in her ward.

  • October 29, 2025

    Portland National Guard Deployment Bench Trial Begins In Ore.

    President Donald Trump overstepped the constitutional bounds of his power when he ordered National Guard members to Portland to address a "manufactured crisis," the Pacific Northwest city told an Oregon federal judge on Wednesday at the start of a bench trial to determine whether the deployment passes legal muster.

  • October 29, 2025

    BP Unit Sued Over Wash. Refinery's 'Noxious Odor' Emissions

    BP Products North America was hit with a proposed negligence class action in Washington federal court on Tuesday, alleging it emitted noxious odors from its oil refinery that damaged nearby properties, forcing some residents to retreat to Airbnb homes for temporary relief from the foul smells.

  • October 29, 2025

    'NJWeedman' Asks To Add State To Suit Over City Hall Protest

    A Garden State cannabis advocate known as "NJWeedman" is asking a federal court to allow him to add the state of New Jersey and its Cannabis Regulatory Commission as defendants in his existing First Amendment lawsuits against the city of Trenton, which he says retaliated against him after he projected a "Batman-like" protest message on City Hall.

  • October 29, 2025

    Squires To Issue Brief 'Up Or Down' Calls On Patent Reviews

    When U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires begins issuing decisions on whether to institute America Invents Act reviews of patents, he will not provide any details of his reasoning in most cases, USPTO officials said Wednesday.

  • October 29, 2025

    5th Circ. Backs FERC's Approval Of Pacific NW Pipeline

    The Fifth Circuit has affirmed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's approval of a TC Energy Corp. natural gas pipeline, rejecting states' claims that FERC didn't fully consider costs to consumers and green groups' claims that an environmental review was inadequate.

  • October 29, 2025

    CFPB's Biden-Era Open Banking Rule Put On Hold

    A Kentucky federal judge on Wednesday barred the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from enforcing its open banking rule until the regulator completes its reconsideration of the controversial data-sharing mandate.

  • October 29, 2025

    Lockheed Investing $50M In Lethal, Unmanned Sea Vehicles

    Lockheed Martin said it's investing $50 million into California-based maritime drone company Saildrone for a collaboration aimed at delivering armed, unmanned surface vehicles for the U.S. Navy.

  • October 29, 2025

    DOJ Says State AGs Can't 'Second-Guess' HPE Merger Deal

    The U.S. Department of Justice and Hewlett Packard Enterprise separately urged a California federal judge Tuesday not to let a dozen state attorneys general peek behind the controversial settlement clearing HPE's $14 billion purchase of Juniper Networks, arguing public comment, not direct intervention, is their appropriate role.

  • October 29, 2025

    Dallas Mavericks Sue To Eject Dallas Stars From Arena

    The NBA's Dallas Mavericks launched a suit in the Texas Business Court aimed at wresting control of the American Airlines Center away from the NHL's Dallas Stars, saying the Stars forfeited their right to co-lease the stadium when they moved their headquarters.

  • October 29, 2025

    Climate Change Heat Death Suit Returns To Wash. State Court

    A Washington federal judge on Tuesday sided with the Seattle-area family of a woman who died during a 2021 heat wave, sending their first-of-its-kind wrongful death suit against oil and gas giants like Exxon back to state court.

  • October 29, 2025

    NYC Sued Over 'Voyeuristic' Police Surveillance System

    A Brooklyn couple has filed a federal lawsuit alleging New York City uses a "voyeuristic" police surveillance system on all visitors and residents, which includes two police cameras that are aimed at the couple's bedroom and living room windows.

  • October 29, 2025

    Shutdown Forces Tribes To Pick Food Or Heat, Senate Told

    Native American nonprofit leaders say Indian Country is choosing between fuel and food after federal employee layoffs and what stands to be the longest government shutdown in U.S. history have forced tribes to burn through their emergency reserves to continue healthcare, housing and food services.

  • October 29, 2025

    Where PTAB Institution Reviews Stand As Squires Takes Lead

    U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires will be maintaining the agency leader's new role of gatekeeper at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Here's what to know about his plans and the pushback on them.

  • October 29, 2025

    NCAA Delays Start Date For College Athlete Betting

    The change in NCAA rules allowing college athletes to bet on pro sports will now take effect Nov. 22 instead of Nov. 1, after the organization voted to delay the move it approved three weeks earlier.

  • October 29, 2025

    Convicted Ex-Conn. Official Flags Juror's Comment To Media

    A former Connecticut schools construction official asked a federal judge to hold a hearing to determine if jurors were candid about their exposure to press coverage of his corruption case, saying Wednesday that the forewoman's post-conviction comment to the media "raises serious questions."

  • October 29, 2025

    NJ Township Prevails In Hemp Permit Dispute

    Multistate cannabis company NAR Group has suffered a second defeat in its efforts to grow and process hemp in the New Jersey township of Lebanon, after a state court judge permanently ended its lawsuit accusing the municipality of unlawfully blocking it from cultivating hemp despite it having a state-issued permit.

Expert Analysis

  • How FDIC Appeals Plan Squares With Fed, OCC Processes

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    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s recent proposal to revise its appeals process merits a fresh comparison to the appeals systems of the Federal Reserve and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and would provide institutions with greater transparency and independence, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • How GILTI Reform Affects M&A Golden Parachute Planning

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    Deal teams should evaluate the effect of a recent seemingly technical change to U.S. international tax law on the golden parachute analysis that often plays a critical part of many corporate transactions to avoid underestimating its impact on an acquirer's worldwide taxable income following a triggering transaction, say attorneys at MoFo.

  • SEC Rulemaking Radar: The Debut Of Atkins' 'New Day'

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's regulatory flex agenda, published last week, demonstrates a clear return to appropriately tailored and mission-focused rulemaking, with potential new rules applicable to brokers, exchanges and trading, among others, say attorneys at Goodwin.

  • Restored Charging Project Funds Revive Hope For EV Market

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    While 2025 began with a host of government actions that prompted some to predict the demise of the U.S. electric vehicle market, the Trump administration's recent restoration of federal funding for EV charging infrastructure under new terms presents market participants with reason for optimism, says Levi McAllister at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Adapting To The Age Of AI

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    Though law school may not have specifically taught us how to use generative artificial intelligence to help with our daily legal tasks, it did provide us the mental building blocks necessary for adapting to this new technology — and the judgment to discern what shouldn’t be automated, says Pamela Dorian at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Ch. 11 Ruling Voiding $2M Litigation Funding Sends A Warning

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    A recent Texas bankruptcy court decision that a postconfirmation litigation trust has no obligations to repay a completely drawn down $2 million litigation funding agreement serves as a warning for estate administrators and funders to properly disclose the intended financing, say attorneys at Kleinberg Kaplan.

  • A Changing Playbook For Fighting Records Requests In Del.

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    The Delaware Supreme Court's recent decision in Wong v. Amazon, reversing the denial of an inspection demand brought by a stockholder, serves as a stark warning to corporations challenging books and records requests, making clear that companies cannot defeat such demands solely by attacking the scope of their stated purpose, say attorneys at Duane Morris.

  • Tesla Verdict May Set New Liability Benchmarks For AV Suits

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    The recent jury verdict in Benavides v. Tesla is notable not only for a massive payout — including $200 million in punitive damages — but because it apportions fault between the company's self-driving technology and the driver, inviting more scrutiny of automated vehicle marketing and technology, says Michael Avanesian at Avian Law Group.

  • Insuring Against FCA Risk In Shifting Trade Landscape

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    In today's heightened trade enforcement environment, companies should proactively assess whether their insurance programs are positioned to respond to potential False Claims Act or customs-related claims, including reviewing directors and officers, professional liability, and representations and warranties policies for key terms, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

  • What To Expect As Trump's 401(k) Order Materializes

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    Following the Trump administration’s recent executive order on 401(k) plan investments in alternative assets like cryptocurrencies and real estate, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will need to answer several outstanding questions before any regulatory changes are implemented, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • Demystifying The Civil Procedure Rules Amendment Process

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    Every year, an advisory committee receives dozens of proposals to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, most of which are never adopted — but a few pointers can help maximize the likelihood that an amendment will be adopted, says Josh Gardner at DLA Piper.

  • RI Menopause Law Brings New Considerations For Employers

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    Rhode Island becoming the first state to provide express antidiscrimination and accommodation protections for employees' menopause-related conditions may be a bellwether for similar protections in other jurisdictions, so employers should consider that while such benefits may improve recruitment and retention, complications may arise from voluntarily adding them, say attorneys at Proskauer.

  • A Foreign Currency Breach Won't Always Sink EB-5 Cases

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    Recent court decisions show that, while EB-5 investors must be able to show the lawfulness of their funds and methods of transfer, a third-party currency exchanger's violation of another country’s currency export control law does not, by itself, taint the funds for purposes of U.S. investment, says Jun Li at Reid & Wise.

  • How The 5th, DC Circuits Agreed On FCC Forfeiture Orders

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    The Fifth and D.C. Circuits split this year on the Federal Communications Commission's process for adjudicating enforcement actions, but both implicitly recognized the problem with penalizing a party based on a forfeiture order that has not yet been challenged in any way in court, says Jared Marx at HWG.

  • FTC, CoStar Cases Against Zillow May Have Broad Impact

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    Zillow's partnerships with Redfin and Realtor.com have recently triggered dual fronts of legal scrutiny — an antitrust inquiry from the Federal Trade Commission and a mass copyright infringement suit from CoStar — raising complex questions that reach beyond real estate, says Shubha Ghosh at Syracuse University College of Law.

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