Courts and government

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has permanently restrained Eunisell Limited from demanding or enforcing late-payment charges against Halkin Exploration and Production Limited under a contractual clause imposing what the court described as an annual default fee of 177 per cent. Justice S.B. Belgore, in a judgment delivered on October 22, 2026, […]

Supreme Court of NSW ... Actor/director Rebel Wilson fends off claim for damages for misleading and deceptive conduct and breach of directorial duties ... Statements were largely opinions not statements of fact ... False and malicious anonymous websites did not refer to plaintiff production companies ... Failure to establish causation of losses ... Wilson succeeds in cross-claim for producer fees ... Editor Stephen Murray reports

Three rulings in SCC Vol. 8 Part 3 cover river pollution, divorce, and stem cell therapy.

President Bola Tinubu has reinstated Muhammad Danjuma, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in the Federal Ministry of Finance, two months after he was suspended over allegations linked to the activities of a purported government project office. Danjuma’s reinstatement followed a review of issues arising from a report by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences […]

The Chief Registrar of the Ogun State High Court, Mr Luqman Oke, has raised concern over the high number of awaiting-trial inmates in Nigerian correctional facilities, disclosing that 51,955 of the country’s 80,812 inmates, representing about 64 per cent, are yet to have their cases finally determined. Oke said the figures underscored the urgent need […]

The Senate has rejected claims by the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, that Nigerians would be subjected to a 25 per cent personal income tax on their earnings if the All Progressives Congress retains power in the 2027 general elections. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi […]

Justice Kaul said CJI Chandrachud was too deferential to the Government in appointment matters.

Nonprofit watchdog group Common Cause, represented by attorneys from American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), has filed a motion to intervene in the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska’s Senate election. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming that the presence of a candidate with the same name as incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) could...

Justin here. Rick has already described why the DOJ’s latest buckets of nonsense in both Alaska and California should fail based on the major questions doctrine , and in California based on timing issues . (FWIW, I think the timing… Continue reading

There are so many things wrong with the federal government’s attempts to meddle in state election processes in Alaska and California, but this post highlights just one point: the DOJ’s ridiculous attempt to find an “elephant in a mousehole:” Congress… Continue reading

The Ninth Circuit has set an emergency Sunday 1 pm argument to consider DOJ’s request for an injunction pending appeal that would force California to segregate ballots from a purported (and unreliable and suspect ) list of non-citizens. I give… Continue reading

A New Mexico state judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found the company liable for deceiving Facebook users about privacy practices in litigation tied to the Cambridge Analytica fallout. The ruling, issued by Judge Francis J. Mathew in New Mexico state district court, is notable not just because of the... Continue Reading

A New Mexico state judge has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found the company liable for deceiving Facebook users about privacy practices in litigation tied to the Cambridge Analytica fallout. The ruling, issued by Judge Francis J. Mathew in New Mexico state district court, is notable not just because of the...

Here’s the order: ORDER FILED. Mark J. BENNETT, Patrick J. BUMATAY, Gabriel P. SANCHEZ. The court will hear remote oral argument via Zoom on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 1 p.m. PDT. Oral argument will be 60 minutes. Each side… Continue reading

Read it here . MORE on why I think the Alaska complaint is just completely devoid of merit over at Slate (gift link).

The motion notes, as I’ve argued , that what DOJ really is doing is filing a stealth mandamus motion to order the lower court to rule on the TRO, a remedy that DOJ is not entitled to (because there will… Continue reading

NYT: The Justice Department is sharply intensifying efforts to intervene in the midterm elections, goaded by a president unfettered by even the limited restraints of his first term. The next several weeks represent a critical moment for federal law enforcement,… Continue reading

Read the opposition.

Society for the Rule of Law r ecorded webinar with Richard Bernstein, Professor Larry Schwartztol of Harvard Law School, and Bruce V. Spiva, Senior Vice President at the Campaign Legal Center.

The U.S. Department of Justice has stepped into a fast-moving Alaska election dispute, filing suit in federal court to prevent certification of a Mary Peltola victory if candidate Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot. Coming just days before the vote, the case is drawing immediate attention not only because of its timing, but because... Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Justice has stepped into a fast-moving Alaska election dispute, filing suit in federal court to prevent certification of a Mary Peltola victory if candidate Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot. Coming just days before the vote, the case is drawing immediate attention not only because of its timing, but because...

Alex Berenson is a one-time N.Y. Times reporter whose life appears to have taken an unfortunate turn in the wake of MAGA and COVID. According to his Wikipedia entry: During the coronavirus pandemic, Berenson appeared frequently in American right-wing media,...

Derek Muller and Rick Hasen have weighed in already on the administration’s Alaska suit, which seeks to bloc certification of the election there. Here’s my view, from today’s Charlie Savage piece in the New York Times: The Trump administration has … Continue reading

NYT: The Department of Justice sent letters on Friday to local election officials across California demanding that they help identify potential noncitizens on their voter rolls and set aside their ballots. The letter — sent to every county in the… Continue reading

Congressional elections draw top attention, but down-ballot candidates and measures shape criminal justice and law enforcement for most people.

From Wednesday's decision in Fontainebleau Florida Hotel, LLC v. Botach [Rabbi Shmuley], decided by Magistrate Judge Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein: Plaintiff's

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has warned Nigerians against paying money to secure bail from police custody, stressing that both police officers who demand or accept such payments and individuals who offer the money could face arrest and prosecution. The warning was conveyed through the Head of the Police Complaint Response Unit, Superintendent of […]

The Legal Board of Appeal has again decided that a divisional application filed after the publication of the mention of grant may be treated as validly filed. The earlier decision to that effect (J 1/24) relied on an appeal by the patentee against the decision to grant the parent – the divisional was thus filed after the parent’s date of grant but while the decision to grant was suspended by the appeal (and the EPO had deleted the publication of the date of mention of the grant in the EPO bullet

Lack of resources, space, or infrastructure is no excuse for failing to comply with the Supreme Court's mandate to install CCTV cameras and preserve footage, the HC said.

NCLT Admits SIDBI’s Insolvency Plea After NeSL’s Deemed-Authenticated Default Record Establishes ₹2.52 Crore Outstanding Financial Debt.

Rejection of GST registration not sustainable when incorrect verification was done on petitioner’s trade licence

The Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee, led by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman, has discharged and acquitted 80 inmates at the Yolde-Pate Correctional Centre in Yola South Local Government Area as part of an ongoing review of cases across correctional facilities in the state. The 80 persons released comprised 55 awaiting-trial […]

Judges in the United States who have issued orders or opinions citing fabricated, AI-generated legal authorities have largely escaped disciplinary consequences, according to a report published by Bloomberg Law and authored by Oliver Roberts of Washington University School of Law. According to the report, there are now at least eight cases in the United States […]

Income Tax additions u/s 68 must be based on evidence assessing the nature and source of credits

GST process reforms that do not require amendments to the law are expected to begin from November 1, 2026 and major statutory changes are targeted for April 1, 2027.

Dallas Independent School District has agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations that it falsely certified compliance with Texas mandatory-reporting laws while receiving federal special-education funds, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. The resolution is notable not only for the payment amount, but also for... Continue Reading

Disclosure of additional income with no element of tax evasion, bars penalty u/s 271(1)(c) of Income Tax Act

Woman accused was granted bail citing her lack of criminal antecedents, extended detention and the principle that "bail is the rule, jail is the exception.

Nazhat Shameem Khan claims some staff are facing ‘banking difficulties’ but their work is unaffected The deputy prosecutor of the international criminal court has said that new US sanctions are already beginning to take effect on its staff but insisted they have not hindered the court’s work. US secretary of state Marco Rubio announced the sanctions earlier this month , accusing the ICC – a frequent Trump administration target – of being a “rogue court” and declaring: “Either the ICC will end it

10/24/1894: U.S. v. E.C. Knight argued.

Expiry of the portal’s 270-day revocation period did not prevent restoration relief, but the taxpayer was required to file pending returns and clear tax, interest, penalty and late fees.

Serious allegations of financial irregularities and alleged embezzlement warranted further investigation by a senior ACB officer where an earlier direction for effective inter-agency investigation had not been meaningfully pursued.

NCLAT rejects recall for lack of proven fraud, holding review impermissible under IBC and imposing exemplary costs.

Advocates must fearlessly protect client’s interests but through fair means, Court cautioned.

It was observed that the report on record confirms the existence of agricultural operations, irrigation facilities, and the cultivation of banana and other crops.

Dallas Independent School District has agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations that it falsely certified compliance with Texas mandatory-reporting laws while receiving federal special-education funds, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. The resolution is notable not only for the payment amount, but also for...

With State Human Rights Commissions crippled by vacancies and allegations of institutional dependence mounting, the NHRC faces a critical international accreditation test that could cost it its coveted “A” status

The apex court’s unusual warning over pedestrian safety outside the Delhi High Court exposes a deeper failure of public administration: what must citizens do when even judicial directions fail to deliver the most basic public services?

The MSME Development (Amendment) Act, 2026, promises tighter timelines, faster dispute resolution and stronger recovery mechanisms for micro and small suppliers. But with its key dispute-resolution provisions yet to come into force—and an earlier 90-day deadline repeatedly found ineffective—the crucial question is whether this reform will finally turn delayed payments into a problem the law can solve

The apex court rejects blanket restrictions on children’s digital access, arguing that protection must not come at the cost of fundamental rights. But as governments worldwide tighten controls, can India find a more effective way to protect its young from online harm?

Observing that a 15-year-old child requires a father’s guidance and a mother’s love and affection, the Court reiterated that these are fundamental to the child’s well-being and that a child must not be made a “football” between the parents to their own detriment.

The trial in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, in which Ashish Mishra, son of former Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, is the prime accused, will now be conducted before a new district judge following concerns raised by the victims’ families over the conduct of the presiding judicial officer. Judicial officer Lokesh […]

It was noted that if an order is found to be prejudicial in respect of even a single item, the initiation of proceedings cannot be questioned.

The Court awarded ₹3,67,97,082 in special damages, ₹10 lakh for mental agony, anguish and harassment, and additional compensation of ₹2 lakh against each defendant found liable for injury to the plaintiff’s professional life.

NMC has withdrawn the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, while preserving ADR filing requirements and existing approvals, rights, obligations and pending proceedings.

Any unexplained investment made in the earlier assessment year cannot be taxed in the current year.

The business premises were ordered to be de-sealed after the petitioner agreed not to dispose of or sell the stock listed by the GST department during the inspection.

GST audit report issued within 3 months of actual commencement of audit valid u/s 65 of CGST Act

Reassessment notices quashed as broker’s register entry was considered that did not establish live nexus to assessee

The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN, has commended President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the resolution of the long-running dispute surrounding the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two, describing the settlement as a victory for Nigeria and a positive signal to investors. Babalakin spoke at the signing ceremony of the settlement agreement […]

Further investigation u/s 44 of PMLA is permissible after filing of prosecution complaint

Notice issued on challenge to S. 147A of the Income Tax Act, with further reassessment proceedings stayed pursuant to SC’s order

A petition before the Supreme Court has sought the constitution of an independent expert committee headed by a former Chief Justice of India to examine the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), including its decision-making processes, electoral roll revision mechanisms and electronic voting machine (EVM) protocols. The plea raises concerns over the functioning […]

In considering Section 45 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the Calcutta High Court held that referring the dispute to arbitration would require it to treat the existing consent decree as non-binding on the charterer, which could not be done at the execution stage in the absence of proceedings to set aside the decree.

The Kerala High Court on Friday declined to grant interim relief against the State Government’s decision to reconstitute the Kerala State Waqf Board, observing that the notification had already been implemented and the newly appointed members had assumed office. A Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji was hearing appeals filed by […]

Isolated transaction without established business nexus with searched group cannot justify transfer under Income Tax Act

Merely offence is triable by JMFC Court is not ground to release on bail for economic offence

*Defends Landmark Beach Demolition, Challenges Owner To Produce Certificate Of Occupancy Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi, in a wide-ranging television interview, addressed the cost structure of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the demolition of structures at Landmark Beach, the award of the project to Hi-Tech Construction, allegations of sexual harassment and the deaths of a […]

Khaitan & Co successfully represented Miloslav Makovini and Pharm Trade Holding Ltd before the DIFC Court of Appeal in Kapova v Makovini . The Court dismissed the appeal and clarified that the DIFC Courts may enforce a settlement within stayed proceedings even where the consent order does not strictly follow the conventional Tomlin form.

The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has granted bail to Facebook user Fonya Sule after he spent about one month in custody over a social media post concerning Governor Agbu Kefas and his 2027 running mate, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, popularly known as Aunty Zee. The bail followed an application by Sule’s counsel, […]

The constitutional amendment seeking to establish State Police in Nigeria has crossed a major legislative hurdle after 25 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly approved the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. The approvals exceed the constitutional requirement that amendments of this nature must be supported by resolutions […]

Four lawyers have approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking an order compelling Mumuni Dagazau, Executive Vice President (Downstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to step aside from office pending the conclusion of a House of Representatives investigation into allegations of corruption, money laundering and abuse of office. The […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has now issued draft Action Levels for Cadmium in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children. After years of study and discussion, the FDA’s long-awaited draft action levels for cadmium are an important step forward in the Agency’s Closer to Zero initiative, which will inform industry and provide predictability to baby food manufacturers and marketers. Under Closer to Zero, launched in 2021 in response to broad concerns regarding heavy...

On October 21, 2026, sitting in a Plenary Session, the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court (STF) concluded the judgment of Extraordinary Appeal No. 592,616 (General Repercussion Theme No. 118). The case addressed whether including the Municipal Services Tax (ISS) in the tax basis of the PIS and COFINS contributions is constitutional.... By: Mayer Brown

Government agency materials, standing alone, can no longer carry a False Claims Act (FCA) case brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ). That is the practical upshot of one of two significant revisions to the Justice Manual announced on September 18, 2026.... By: Akerman LLP - Health Law Rx

Concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary ahead of the 2027 general elections have intensified following a warning by retired Supreme Court Justice Amina Adamu Augie that corruption involving judges, lawyers and court officials is eroding public confidence in the administration of justice and turning some courts into what she described as “market stalls.” Justice […]

Just when you thought the Winter Storm Uri force majeure litigation has run its course, the Fifth Circuit certified a question in MIECO L.L.C. v. Targa Gas Marketing L.L.C. to the Supreme Court of Texas. The question is, when gas supplies froze in the storm did Targa have to go to the spot market to buy replacement gas, at whatever the price, to satisfy its delivery obligations? The District Court said no, the Fifth Circuit first said yes, at least for a marketer such as Targa.... By: Gray Reed

An insurer cannot escape coverage for a False Claims Act settlement simply because the underlying allegations involve fraud. In Guidehouse Inc. v. Continental Casualty Co., No. 1:25-cv-1601 (RDA/IDD), slip op. (E.D. Va. Sept. 29, 2026), a Virginia federal court held that an insurer was obligated to cover a $7.6 million False Claims Act settlement, subject to a $5 million retention.... By: Nossaman LLP

On September 30, 2026, Senate negotiators released the text of the proposed Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (“BAAJA”). For offshore wind, the timing is pointed. In December 2025, the administration suspended leases and construction for five East Coast projects totaling roughly 5.8 GW, and developers had to go to court to resume work. The bill responds directly to last year’s stop-work orders: if enacted, it would make federal approvals far harder to revoke and back that...

On October 20, 2026, the Staff of the Division of Trading and Markets (the “Division”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) published frequently asked questions (the “FAQs”) regarding the SEC’s September 17, 2026 order (the “Innovation Exemption Order”). The Innovation Exemption Order grants temporary, conditional exemptive relief from the definition of “exchange” in Section 3(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) for certain distributed ledger... By:

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) issued guidance on the Trapped at Work Act, addressing several important questions about existing agreements, voluntary benefits, and permissible repayment obligations, about which we reported previously. The guidance provides employers with a clearer framework for reviewing repayment arrangements before the Act’s December 19, 2026 effective date.... By: Littler

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced on October 14, 2026, that her office has initiated a formal investigation into TikTok, Inc., “to determine whether the company has deceived families, exploited young users, or put children at risk through its platform’s design and operation.”... By: Robinson+Cole Data Privacy + Security Insider

Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies, and analyses; and other health policy news.... By: Alston & Bird

In its judgment of September 10, 2026, the Federal Labor Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG)) issued a landmark decision on the scope of damages under the German General Equal Treatment Act ( Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG)), finding that a job applicant unlawfully rejected on the basis of his age but who found suitable employment at another company does not have a claim for lost earnings even if the chain of causation ( Zurechnungszusammenhang ) between the discrimination and the damage

The Beltway Buzz ® is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business.

NCLAT upheld rejection of ₹7 crore plan for failing to address default cause and violating mandatory IBC requirements.

NCLAT stayed the buyout order due to concerns over the independence of the disputed share valuation report.

The U.S. Department of State’s November 2026 Visa Bulletin shows movement under the Final Action Dates chart for several categories. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will follow the Dates for Filing chart in November 2026. Adjustment applicants who became eligible to file in October 2026 will remain eligible in November 2026, and more adjustment applicants will become eligible for immigrant visa approval.

Via Josh Gerstein, here is the motion. The court has asked for responses by Saturday, which is already a huge concession to the government in a case where there is no appealable order. For more on how procedurally and substantively… Continue reading

Report on Proposed Statutory Changes to Implement the Community Justice Worker Program Download Cheryl.Cheng@c… Fri, 10/23/2026 - 17:07

What You Need to Know A new civil False Claims Act (FCA) Self-Disclosure Pilot Program (SDPP) was announced on October 22, 2026. The SDPP, which will run for six months, encourages health care entities to self-disclose potential violations of the FCA and reach resolution on civil liability as well as various administrative penalties. The SDPP offers several favorable terms for entities participating in the SDPP, including a lower multiplier and non-claims based calculation methodology for disclo

From the Derivatives Practice Group: This week, the CFTC’s Innovation Task Force released the agenda for the inaugural Frontier Forum

The U.S. Department of Justice has stepped directly into an active election dispute in Alaska, filing suit in federal court to prevent the state from certifying a win by Rep. Mary Peltola under certain circumstances in the U.S. Senate race. Coming just days before the November 3, 2026 election, the case immediately stands out not...

The U.S. Department of Justice has stepped directly into an active election dispute in Alaska, filing suit in federal court to prevent the state from certifying a win by Rep. Mary Peltola under certain circumstances in the U.S. Senate race. Coming just days before the November 3, 2026 election, the case immediately stands out not... Continue Reading

Employers responding to federal workplace discrimination charges may have a lot less time to prepare their defense now – and missing the deadline could come with serious consequences. Although the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has traditionally given employers 30 days to submit a position statement, we’re seeing reports that the agency recently started requiring responses in just 15 days, with little flexibility for extensions. Even more concerning, some employers have... By: Fi

Syngenta sought to sow the seeds of a price-cost defence, arguing that its loyalty rebates were above-cost discounts protected by US competition law. But the US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina ruled that the Federal Trade Commission presented enough evidence for a jury to find that the rebates were designed to prevent generic competition from taking root. Also in Tipline, ...

This is not a happy judge .

NYT: President Trump has warned that the country’s election systems are vulnerable to foreign meddling. Federal agents are scouring state rolls and federal databases to try to find noncitizen voters. And the homeland security chief has asked the Justice Department… Continue reading

And does Todd Butler agree with Judge Southwick that denying a bond hearing to illegal aliens is an affront to freedom “at its most basic”?

The Product Liability and Mass Tort Monitor is a monthly newsletter delivering critical updates, data insights and actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of product liability and mass tort litigation. This month’s issue explores the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit’s recent decision in Coates v. Ford Motor Co., which clarifies the limits of the “malfunction theory” of product defect when the allegedly defective product remains available for inspection.... By: McGuireWoo

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has clarified employees’ burden to demonstrate their employer unreasonably failed to rehire them after a compensable workplace injury in violation of Wisconsin’s Worker’s Compensation Act, Wis. Stat. § 102.35(3).... By: Jackson Lewis P.C.

On October 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland denied a preliminary injunction against Executive Order 14398, permitting the Administration’s March 2026 order related to federal contractor diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices to remain in effect while litigation proceeds. Unlike the earlier litigation involving Executive Orders 14151 and 14173, where courts initially enjoined certain provisions based on concerns regarding vagueness and overbreadth, the... B

On Oct. 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland denied a request by a coalition of higher education and contractor associations to preliminarily enjoin Executive Order 14398, “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors” (the FAR DEI Order), and to stay the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council’s April 17, 2026, implementing memorandum, “Agency Implementation of Executive Order 14398, Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors” (the FAR Memo)....

Insurance companies bring experienced professionals to the claims process. Policyholders should be able to bring knowledgeable help of their own. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has opened an investigation into the issue, announcing on October 20 that his office subpoenaed Velocity Risk Underwriters over possible agreements that restrict policyholders from hiring licensed public adjusters. 1

On Friday, October 16, 2026, President Trump issued an Executive Order implementing the Graham Act, passed back in September 2026. The Order waived most of the sanctions, restrictions, and duties the statute would otherwise impose.... By: Husch Blackwell LLP

An insurer exercises an option expressly afforded by its policy, pays the policy limits, and thereby satisfies its contractual obligations. One might reasonably expect that to end the dispute. In Quilbillies, LLC v. First American Title Insurance Co., 2026 WL 2731415, Case No. No. 25-501 (9th Cir. Sept. 16, 2026), a split Ninth Circuit panel held otherwise, at least as to bad faith.... By: Cozen O'Connor

This past August, the Fourth Circuit issued an opinion addressing the extent to which employers may investigate suspected fraud or inauthenticity in an employee’s Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) medical certification. In Mook v. Hall, 185 F.4th 456 (4th Cir. 2026), the court held that the FMLA regulations do not clearly establish that an employer must provide an employee an opportunity to cure concerns about the authenticity of a medical certification before contacting the certifying... By

On Oct. 15, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) that would establish blanket authorization procedures for certain modifications to liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The proposed program — the first of its kind for LNG facilities — is modeled on FERC’s existing blanket authorization program for natural gas pipelines subject to its jurisdiction under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).... By: McGuireWoods LLP

In Milstein v. Harris,Case No. 2021-2776 (Ohio Bd. of Tax App., Oct. 5, 2026), the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals (the “Board”) affirmed a final determination of the Tax Commissioner of Ohio (the “Commissioner”) rejecting a trust beneficiary’s attempt to claim, on his personal Ohio return, depreciation deductions that Ohio law assigns to the trust.... By: Blank Rome LLP

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published an updated manual on transparency under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II and Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation.... By: A&O Shearman

On Oct. 15, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Draft Policy Statement to streamline its review of proposed natural gas projects under the Natural Gas Act (NGA), consistent with its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under the Draft Policy Statement, the Commission would (i) no longer generally require NGA project applicants to submit air dispersion modeling or rely on such modeling to assess whether the air quality effects of facility... B

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its findings from a May survey assessing firms' actions in response to its November 2025 multi-firm review of contract for difference (CFD) providers' compliance with the consumer duty price and value outcome.... By: A&O Shearman

Another significant reform of Indonesia's employment regulatory landscape is imminent.... By: Ashurst Perkins Coie

That protection, however, came with an important exception: a community association (“HOA”) could still restrict or prohibit those flags if its governing documents contained the magic words. As of August 11, 2026, that exception is gone. Senate Bill 445, enacted as Session Law 2026-59, rewrote the flag provisions of both the North Carolina Condominium Act…... By: Ward and Smith, P.A.

On October 13, 2026, the European Union’s (EU) European Commission made Sanofi’s commitments not to disparage a competing flu vaccine legally binding. The Commission found that Sanofi’s enhanced flu vaccine in the EU, Efluelda, competes with the EU’s only other enhanced flu vaccine, CSL Seqirus’s Fluad. From 2024 through fall... Read More

[U.S.] Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to fully ban student IDs for voting in midtermsKaren.Datangel Thu, 10/22/2026 - 09:47 NewsLink The justices granted a Republican-backed emergency appeal and blocked the use of student IDs as a backup method of identification. The Supreme Court cited a longstanding legal principle that judges shouldn’t change voting rules too close to Election Day.

Calif. Supreme Court Lets Stand Rulings Limiting 'Yelp Law' ClaimsAnonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/22/2026 - 16:06 NewsLink (Subscription required) California’s Supreme Court has declined to hear petitions in two cases involving the state’s so-called Yelp Law, letting stand decisions limiting private enforcement of a statute that shields consumers’ online criticisms.

California Updates Rules on Court Interpreter Pay, Certification, and ASL AccessKaren.Datangel Fri, 10/23/2026 - 09:26 NewsLink The Judicial Council of California approved three changes to how the state’s courts recruit, pay, and deploy interpreters at its October 16, 2026 business meeting. The council eased the path to certification for spoken-language interpreters, capped independent contractor pay at federal rates, and authorized a pilot program using American Sign Language (ASL) generalist i

The government has launched what it describes as the most comprehensive review of whistleblowing law since the framework was introduced over 25 years ago.... By: DLA Piper

The California Legislature continued to support housing production and streamline housing approvals by creating new ministerial pathways for townhome projects, extending subdivision map expirations, limiting subdivision map appeals and plan-check cycles, and expediting inspections.... By: Holland & Knight LLP

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), through a recent decision, has clarified the current test for when an employee loses protection under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) because he or she engages in abusive or hostile conduct. As a result, General Motors LLC, 369 N.L.R.B. No. 127 (July 21, 2020) is now once again affirmatively the operative Board standard for deciding whether an employee otherwise engaged in Section 7 activity loses NLRA protection because of abusive, profane,...

On October 17, 2026, the Department of Finance published proposed regulations to implement the long-awaited 2018 amendments to federal financial institutions legislation that expand the permissible scope of non-financial activities for federally regulated financial institutions (FRFIs). The published package includes four sets of regulations (collectively, the Draft Regulations)...... By: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is accepting applications through 5:00 p.m. CT on November 9, 2026, for the Texas Voluntary Marginal Conventional Well Plugging Program (TxMCW), a voluntary program that helps owners and operators, including companies, permanently plug low-producing or idle oil and gas wells (marginal conventional wells).... By: Holland & Knight LLP

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (P.L. 119-111) (the Graham Act or Act), signed into law by President Donald Trump on September 18, 2026, sought to codify the existing executive order-based Russia sanctions program, mandate new Russia sanctions and create new Russia-related tariff authorities.... By: Holland & Knight LLP

An agent of the Chicago attorneys defied a court order and sent information to a subpoena recipient of which "every element ... was false," according to the plaintiffs.

Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel largely denied summary judgment in Doe v. Apple Inc., No. 3:20-cv-00421-NJR (S.D. Ill.), the long-running Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) class action concerning Apple’s Photos app and its facial recognition capabilities.... By: Ashurst Perkins Coie

Rebellions, rebels without a cause, and military discounts.

On July 14, 2020, the EC found that a number of ethylene purchasers participated in a purchasing cartel from 2011 to 2017.... By: Jones Day

Can you be taxed on money you never received? An article in the October 2025 edition of The BR State + Local Tax Spotlight authored by Joshua M. Sivin posed that question when discussing a decision of the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals (“BTA”).... By: Blank Rome LLP

President Trump said Friday he directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file a lawsuit to block certification of the Senate election in Alaska if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses in November. DOJ filed the suit Thursday, claiming the existence of a candidate with a similar name to Sullivan's would make a win by Democrat...

The Insular Cases—Supreme Court rulings from the early 1900s addressing the constitutional status of U.S. Territories—are facing what Justice Neil Gorsuch has called “a long overdue reckoning.” In 2022, Gorsuch declared that the Insular Cases “deserve no place in our law” because they “have no foundation in the Constitution and rest instead on racial stereotypes.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor agreed, stating that the Insular Cases “were premised on beliefs both odious and wrong.” Together, these Just

Younger generations appear to have a “greater appetite” for pursuing monopolisation cases because of their negative experiences with Big Tech, Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson has said.

In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has expanded protections for religious institutions from claims of discrimination under federal civil rights laws. This church autonomy doctrine allows religious organizations to make decisions that otherwise would be considered discriminatory when compliance with such laws burdens their religious beliefs.... By: Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

On October 8, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) circulated a draft Third Report and Order (R&O) and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that would end FCC recognition of radiofrequency (RF) device test laboratories (Test Labs) located in countries with which the United States lacks a mutual recognition agreement or comparable reciprocal agreement (non-Reciprocal Economies).... By: DLA Piper

Passport paperwork is rarely anyone’s idea of a good time. Want an even worse time? Try having the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allege you are selling a shortcut you can’t deliver.... By: BakerHostetler

WHAT: The Department of War (DoW) issued a new online Guide to Prototype Other Transactions (Guide) covering prototype and follow-on production Other Transactions (OTs) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022. The Guide carries forward much of the 2023 Other Transactions Guide (2023 OT Guide) but refines DoW’s guidance on eligibility, modifications, pricing, payment, and follow-on production.... By: Wiley Rein LLP

The UK Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has published a consultation paper on proposals to simplify the regulatory framework for access to payment systems.... By: A&O Shearman

October 1 is the International Day of Older Persons. The day honors what older people contribute to society. It also draws attention to age discrimination. So, is an employee close to retirement treated unfairly because of her age if her employer offers her a workspace next to trainees?... By: Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,

From the compounding-our-errors-for-maximum-pain dept

Last week’s EmployNews reported on a proposal by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to withdraw its enforcement guidance on use of criminal and other background checks in employment. Last Friday, the EEOC made a corresponding move to withdraw its 1978 Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures.... By: Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP

On June 16, 2025, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Chevron USA, Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish to address whether the causal-nexus requirement survived the Removal Clarification Act of 2011’s amendment to 28 U.S.C. § 1442, the federal officer removal statute (FORS). The consolidated cases before the court include some of the more than forty civil cases that were brought by Louisiana parishes against various oil companies seeking to hold them responsible for the loss and deterioration of Louis

On November 3, New York City voters will decide on five proposed amendments to the City Charter. These amendments were placed on the ballot by the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), a charter revision commission convened by Mayor Mamdani to recommend ways to improve efficiency and modernize City government.... By: Fried Frank

Buying an insurance policy should not mean agreeing to whatever additional hurdles the Legislature might create years later. The Florida Supreme Court reinforced that principle in Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co. v. Hughes, holding that Florida’s property insurance pre-suit notice requirement does not apply to policies issued before July 1, 2021. 1 For policyholders

On October 16, 2026, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) jointly issued Announcement No. 48 of 2026, proposing new export restrictions on certain advanced biopharmaceutical technologies.... By: Ropes & Gray LLP

Two tracks are headed toward U.S. review of China-origin biotech licensing, but recent reporting suggests they may arrive at very different places, and European deal counsel should be watching both.... By: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

On October 14, 2026, the Federal Reserve issued Supervision and Regulation Letter 26-8, updating eligibility criteria for state member banks and U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks to qualify for an extended 18-month examination cycle rather than the standard 12-month cycle.... By: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently updated its Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (“SRDP”), which allows health care providers and suppliers to voluntarily disclose actual or potential violations of the federal physician self-referral law, commonly known as the “Stark Law.”... By: Thompson Coburn LLP

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson publicly broke with her Supreme Court colleagues in a Thursday ruling allowing New Hampshire to fully block voters from using student IDs in the upcoming midterms. Jackson, the high court's most junior liberal justice, wrote in a short dissent that she would have left in place a lower court decision that...

Greetings TCPAWorld! It’s only fitting that when something in Florida sparks interest, we’re all over it. I’m back with a follow-up on the proposed Florida Anti-Spam Communications Act.... By: Troutman Amin LLP

Three named plaintiffs brought an 11-count, 472-paragraph complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, asserting claims under the laws of all 50 states and the District of Columbia on behalf of themselves and a putative nationwide class of purchasers of the defendant’s pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).... By: FBT Gibbons LLP

On September 29, 2026, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released proposed emergency amendments to the regulations governing its Opt-In Certification Program.... By: Allen Matkins

California has enacted Senate Bill 1050, which adds a new article to the state’s False Advertising Law.... By: Ashurst Perkins Coie

If you blinked this week, you may have missed Alabama cannabis news breaking, un-breaking, and re-breaking within about 24 hours. According to an analysis published by Alabama Political Reporter, multiple outlets reported Monday that Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Executive Director John McMillan planned to step down at the commission’s October 29 meeting.... By: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

On October 22 2026, the Government updated the implementation timetable for its Plan to Make Work Pay. The changes delay the fire and rehire restrictions and provide implementation dates for other proposals scheduled for 2027.... By: BCLP

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has proposed a blanket authorization program that could substantially reduce the time required for liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal operators to construct, modify, replace, and, in some cases, expand existing facilities.... By: Venable LLP

"Sometimes, even a good process produces disappointing results.” With that introduction, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously affirmed the district court’s grant of summary judgment to Quest Diagnostics, a plan sponsor, in a comprehensive opinion highlighting the centrality of process to courts’ consideration of ERISA breach of fiduciary duty claims. The decision is significant because it is one of the first circuit court decisions considering summary judgment in the... By

Once election season winds down, Congress faces a Dec. 11 government funding deadline and a long list of health programs that are set to expire at the end of 2026. Those deadlines may provide a vehicle for a broader package of health legislation, but the scope will depend on available offsets, ability to reach bicameral agreement and

Canadian case law on price representations continues to develop since our recent post on the Federal Court’s decision dismissing a drip pricing class action. This time, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice refused to certify a class action about pricing practices alleged to resemble drip pricing, and analyzed them under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (the CPA).... By: Bennett Jones LLP

When issuing a stay of the Trump Administration’s construction of a border wall in Texas last week, a federal judge held that a “violation” of the major questions doctrine is a constitutional violation. We’ve seen the major questions doctrine get used in unusual ways over the past few years. This may be the most outlandish […]

“It’s crucial that incarcerated youth receive the special education services they’re entitled to,” said Amelia Evard, Staff Attorney with Disability Rights Advocates. “We’re hopeful that Kings County Office of Education will also come to the table to meet the needs of the young people in their care.”

British Columbia employers with fifty or more employees are fast approaching their first reporting deadline under the province’s Pay Transparency Act. Employers that had fifty or more employees on January 1, 2026, must prepare and publish their first pay transparency reports on or before November 1, 2026.... By: Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,

On October 14, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a notice formally delegating the Secretary’s authority to impose permissive exclusions under section 1128(b) of the Social Security Act to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator. See 91 Fed. Reg. 65,219 (Oct. 14, 2026).... By: Goodwin

On October 20, 2026, Allegheny County Council voted 11-4 to approve a sweeping paid parental leave mandate that would require covered employers to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid leave following the birth, adoption, or legal placement of a child.... By: Freeman Mathis & Gary

On September 28, 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the CFTC or Commission) submitted two proposed rules to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) that would further define the term “swap” under the Commodity Exchange Act to resolve the question of whether event contracts traded on prediction market platforms fall within the CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction.... By: Husch Blackwell LLP

This decision deals with two motions to strike plaintiffs’ air-monitoring expert and report filed by defendants, Avondale and Bayer CropScience, Inc. In this litigation, plaintiffs allege decedent, while an employee for Avondale, was exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing products manufactured, distributed, sold, and/or handled by Avondale and other parties. Plaintiffs...... By: Goldberg Segalla

Directs federal housing agencies to reduce homeownership costs by facilitating proactive mortgage-insurance cancellation, standardizing manufactured-housing requirements, expanding alternatives to title insurance for refinancing, reducing certain refinancing requirements and fees, and lowering interest rates on USDA and VA direct single-family home loans.... By: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Determines that domestic petroleum production, refining and logistics capacity are essential to national defense and waives statutory requirements under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act (DPA; P.L. 81-774) to accelerate capacity expansion, authorizing the Secretary of War to make purchases, commitments and provide financial support for related projects.... By: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

From October 30 2026, the ERA gives trade unions a new right to request workplace access from employers with 21 or more workers, even where they have no members. If agreement cannot be reached, the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) can order access, and if the employer breaches the order, the penalties are significant.... By: BCLP

In a recent decision, a Washington appellate court reversed a superior court order that upheld a Business and Occupation (“B&O”) tax assessment against a Colorado company, holding that genuine issues of material fact precluded summary judgment for the Department of Revenue (“DOR”). M’KNIB Company v. State of Washington, Dep’t of Revenue, No. 41068-4-III (Wash. Ct. App. Sept. 22, 2026).... By: Blank Rome LLP

The 5th Circuit sent a challenge to Mississippi's DEI law to a new judge after finding fabricated parties, quotations and a nonexistent case in the district court's orders, alongside legal errors. What the remedy means for citation checks, records practice and AI controls.

Following more than a year of market participant feedback on proposed amendments to the Securities and Futures (Stock Market Listing) Rules, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission published its Consultation Conclusions to refine the regulatory framework for Hong Kong–listed companies and initial public offerings.... By: Morgan Lewis

Massachusetts employers trying to stop former employees from launching a competing business should no longer assume that having a strong trade secrets claim will automatically allow them to also secure a court injunction. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court just ruled in Daikin Applied Americas Inc. v. Russo that employers seeking a preliminary injunction must separately demonstrate “irreparable harm” sufficient to win a court order that will stop someone from using or sharing your trade...

Since the New York State Division of Taxation (“Division”) issued the wrong notice to an admittedly “responsible person,” an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) held that no liability could be imposed on her for the sales taxes owed by the company. Matter of Calvano, DTA No. 851521 (Sept. 3, 2026).... By: Blank Rome LLP

A federal appeals court on Friday ruled 2-1 that President Trump’s National Guard deployment to the Los Angeles area last year was unlawful. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rejected Trump’s assertion that violent demonstrations in the city protesting his immigration crackdown justified him wresting control of the troops from Gov. Gavin...

On September 10, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued its decision in Univabs Solutions Private Limited v. The Radiology Group, LLC (No. 26-10124), holding that a generic choice of law clause selecting Georgia law did not incorporate the Georgia Arbitration Act (GAA) or displace the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA).... By: DLA Piper

Oregon and nine other states argue that the OCC unlawfully preempted state interest-on-escrow laws, that Oregon is a proper venue, and that their challenge to the agency’s authority should proceed. The court expects to rule on the OCC’s motions by November 20. Ten states challenging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) mortgage interest-on-escrow rules have opposed the agency’s motion to dismiss or transfer the case.... Continue Reading

I have posted this piece at Slate (gift link). It begins: With just days to go before November’s midterms, the Department of Justice ended this week by launching its most desperate and unprofessional assaults on the American election system yet.… Continue reading

On October 21, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC or Commission) Division of Trading and Markets published an FAQ concerning the Commission’s “Innovation Exemption,” a September 17, 2026 order granting a conditional five-year exemptive relief from the definitions of “exchange” and “dealer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to certain tokenized securities venues (TSVs) and liquidity providers engaged in trading tokenized National Market System (NMS) stocks.... By: Lowenstein Sa

At long last, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed amendments to Rule 17a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act). These amendments (the Proposed Amendments) would do many things, but most consequentially, the Proposed Amendments would fix the part of Rule 17a-7 that was broken with the adoption of the mutual fund valuation rule back in 2020: the effective exclusion of most fixed-income securities from the scope of Rule 17a-7.... By: K&L Gates LLP

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on October 14, 2026, that its Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO) intends to award up to $60 million “to expand domestic energy production and distribution through novel, high-impact chemicals, fertilizers, fuels, and feedstock technologies.”... By: Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

On October 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) announced the creation of the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP), which DOJ touts as “the first ever whistleblower rewards program that pays an up-front award for tips leading to criminal charges.” Qualifying whistleblowers may be eligible for discretionary awards between $10,000 and $30,000 in exchange for original information in key subject areas that materially contributes to... By

“Trump Mandatory Immigrant Detention Upheld by Full Fifth Circuit”: Megan Crepeau and Jacqueline Thomsen of Bloomberg Law have this report . You can access today’s 10-to-7 en banc decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit at this link .

Last month, the FTC published frequently asked questions addressing automobile pricing transparency under the Federal Trade Commission Act.... By: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, applying New Jersey law, held that a D&O policy’s false advertising and unfair business practices exclusion barred coverage for an enforcement action alleging that a merchant cash advance company engaged in illegal lending and marketing practices.... By: Wiley Rein LLP

PRESS RELEASE SALT LAKE CITY (October 23, 2026) — Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Matthew B. Janzen to the Third District Court, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert Faust. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate. “Matthew brings decades of legal experience and a deep commitment to […]

China has taken a significant step toward expanding its technology export control regime. On October 16, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (“MOFCOM”) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (“MOST”) jointly issued Announcement No. 48 (“Announcement No. 48”), which releases for public comment proposed revisions to the Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited or Restricted from Export of China (the “Technology Catalogue”).... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

The FTC says it has secured a settlement with Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC that could become one of the most closely watched competition-law developments for suppliers, distributors, and retailers in years. The proposed stipulated order, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, would resolve the agency’s 2024 lawsuit...

In the latest AG legal skirmish over prediction markets, Utah AG Derek Brown filed a lawsuit against Kalshi Inc. and several affiliated entities, along with Susquehanna International Group and an affiliate, alleging violations of state gambling and sports betting laws dating to at least 2024.... By: Cozen O'Connor

The one-year suspension of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) “Affiliates Rule” announced in November 2025 is set to end on November 9, 2026. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in an interview on September 23, 2026, that the Affiliates Rule suspension will be extended two months through January 10, 2027, though BIS has not yet published a notice implementing the extension.... By: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has rejected seven extrajudicial statements obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from Aminu Baba-Kusa, the second defendant in the alleged ₦33.2 billion arms fraud trial involving former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and three others. Justice Charles Agbaza, in […]

The Court of Appeal in London has affirmed that an UNCITRAL tribunal was wrong to decline jurisdiction over an Emirati authority’s US$273 million investment treaty claim against India relating to a cancelled bauxite supply deal.

In the Spotlight: Reform of EU Public Procurement Explore all our news by topic : Insurance ; Intellectual Property ; Life sciences ; Litigation ; Public Law ; Real estate-... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

Until recently, everyone understood that the United States Tax Court's 90-day deadline to petition for redetermination of a tax deficiency had no exceptions.... By: White & Case LLP

A bipartisan coalition of 39 state attorneys general (AGs), joined by the District of Columbia, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a closely watched dispute over whether federally regulated prediction markets may offer sports-event contracts without complying with state gambling laws.... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

On October 1, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took joint actions against the A7 Network, a global financial services infrastructure designed to evade sanctions, “to isolate Iran and its financial enablers,” as part of Operation Economic Outcast against Iran.... By: Ballard Spahr LLP

CMS is considering changes to its fraud-investigation contractors at the same time it is acquiring authority to exclude providers from federal healthcare programs. Providers and their counsel should be looking at these developments together.... By: McDonald Hopkins

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s enforcement priorities have changed , and it seems, so have corresponding timelines to respond to employee charge allegations. Employers responding to charges of discrimination filed with the EEOC are encountering shorter deadlines for submitting position statements. This development makes prompt coordination with counsel and timely collection of evidence more important than ever.

On October 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson, District of Maryland, denied a motion for a preliminary injunction and stay in National Ass’n of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump with respect to the March 2026 Executive Order (EO) No. 14398 , “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors.”

Language rights in Canada have a broad history. There is perhaps no province that embodies this commitment quite like New Brunswick, given its status as the only official bilingual province in Canada. In Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick v Canada (Prime Minister) 2026 SCC 22 [Nouveau-Brunswick], the Supreme Court (SCC) contends with applying Charter protected […] Read more in Arabella Hareem Abid 's latest article: ‘Excusez Moi?’: Language Rights in <em> Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Bru

Republicans have long accused the FBI of mishandling the laptop and the investigations into the younger Biden.

Editor’s Note: A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Oct. 22, 2026, vacated a preliminary injunction that U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate had entered against Mississippi House Bill 1193, a 2025 law restricting diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools and colleges, and ordered the case, Jackson Federation... Continue Reading

In ADM Industries Centers Ltd v Inerco Trade SA [2026] EWHC 1873 (Comm), the English Commercial Court provided important guidance on the meaning of the term “unforeseeable” in a force majeure clause, holding that the term required the probability of the relevant event to be “negligible”; that is, so small that it could, in commercial terms, be disregarded.... By: White & Case LLP

In Castle Tire Disposal, LLC v. Liberty Tire Services of Ohio, LLC, the Delaware Court of Chancery held that a private equity firm’s acquisition of a buyer’s indirect parent was not a Change of Control under an asset purchase agreement.... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

New York City is considering a sweeping unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts and practices (UDAAP) law that could materially expand litigation risk for businesses operating in, selling to, or otherwise engaging with City residents.... By: Hinshaw & Culbertson - Consumer Crossroads

An ICC tribunal ruled by majority that Venture Global failed to declare Calcasieu Pass operational on time. Galp’s damages will be decided at a hearing in 2027 or 2028, and Venture Global says they are capped at $170 million.... By: Bracewell LLP

In Adem Arslani v. Microsoft Corporation, et al., the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted motions to dismiss a pro se plaintiff’s Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) claim as untimely, holding that the plaintiff’s own allegations showed that he knew of the alleged misappropriation of his health care consulting methodologies in late 2021, more than three years before he filed suit.... By: ArentFox Schiff

Last week, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (which covers Alabama, Florida, and Georgia) overruled a 1985 precedent, Mason v. Continental Group, Inc., that required employees to exhaust their benefit plan’s internal claims resolution process before suing for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).... By: ArentFox Schiff

On October 14, 2026, HHS published a Federal Register notice formally delegating to the CMS Administrator its permissive exclusion authority, which allows the exclusion of individuals and entities, including healthcare providers, from participation in federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. The delegation is effective immediately. The notice does not change the criteria for exclusion but may lead to increased use of this enforcement tool.... By: King & Spalding

The District Court of Appeals of Florida (“Court”) addressed an issue involving riparian rights.... By: Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi addressed in an October 19th Opinion and Order (“Opinion”) a request by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to intervene as a Plaintiff and dismiss the citizen suit action filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP (collectively, “NAACP”) requesting a preliminary injunction against x.AI and MZX Tech LLC (collectively, “x.AI”). See...

The trilogue on the EU securitisation package has successfully concluded under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU with political agreement being reached between the Council and the European Parliament on 21 October 2026 to revise and simplify the EU's securitisation regime - a remarkable feat given how far apart the co-legislators were on some of the issues at the outset.... By: Walkers

By Barbara Grabowska-Moroz In May 2026, the ECtHR decided Sobczyńska and others v Poland – a case suggesting the existence of structural shortcomings of judicial independence in the Polish legal system, which existed long before the rule of law crisis started in Poland in 2015. The case concerns the role of access to judicial review […]

Federal Circuit holds a Florida railroad owned its corridor in fee, defeating Legacy Trail neighbors' takings claims under the Trails Act. Continue reading this post on Patently-O.

The Court has been alerted to recent instances of scammers calling members of the public pretending to be representatives of the Court, a practice known as spoofing. Please be aware that the Court DOES NOT directly call members of the public who are parties in a case requesting information nor does it accept payment [...]

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has dismissed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against an earlier judgment that vacated an order freezing 124 bank accounts linked to businesswoman Aisha Achimugu and companies associated with her. The appellate court, in […]

In the latest wave of press releases ramping up the new National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) announced a new policy (the “Coordination Policy”) on October 15, 2026, directing that companies seeking to voluntarily self-disclose potential criminal conduct relating to health care should now make self-disclosures to NFED. Such disclosures will automatically trigger both DOJ’s

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today published the fall 2026 edition of the Interest Rate Risk Statistics Report . The report presents interest rate risk data gathered during examinations of OCC-supervised midsize and community banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks).

Voting rights advocates say directive would disenfranchise young and low-income voters, but Republicans say it’s needed to combat voter fraud US politics live – latest updates The US supreme court has cleared the way for New Hampshire to prohibit student IDs as a form of voter identification ahead of November’s midterm elections. In a brief unsigned order , justices sided with a Republican National Committee (RNC)-backed appeal on the matter. They cited a longstanding rule that lower federal cou

A short excerpt from the long opinion in Jackson Fed. of Teachers v. Fitch, decided yesterday by Fifth Circuit Judge

On September 14, 2026, Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg signed a memorandum titled “Fostering One Strong Industrial Base” (the Memorandum), which directs the Department of War (DoW) to move from government-unique Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as its accounting baseline, confine CAS coverage to a narrow set of sole-source, cost-based work, and restructure how DoW audits and reviews contractor business systems.... By: McGuireWoods LLP

On August 3, 2026, Judge Shireen A. Barday of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York entered a supplemental provisional relief order in the chapter 15 cases of Grupo Antolín-Irausa, S.A.U. and its affiliates.... By: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s recent enforcement action against Bank of America represents one of the most significant anti-money laundering (AML) settlements in U.S. history and provides important compliance lessons for casinos and gaming operators that are subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).... By: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Washington’s SB 6026 expands opportunities for residential development on underused commercial and mixed-use properties by limiting certain local restrictions on housing in those zones. Effective June 11, 2026, the law may create new redevelopment options for owners and developers of retail centers, office properties, and other commercial assets across Washington. This article explains where SB 6026 applies, key statutory exceptions, and limits on local ground-floor commercial requirements. It..

The Federal Government has secured 653 convictions in the ongoing third phase of the mass trial of persons accused of terrorism, terrorism financing and related offences across the country. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, disclosed on Friday that 1,060 defendants were brought before the courts during the current phase […]

Governor Newsom signs 22 of 25 major privacy and artificial intelligence (AI) bills, reshaping obligations for businesses, employers, technology companies, health care providers, data brokers, and organizations serving children.... By: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

On October 21, 2026, the OCC issued a final rule implementing the GENIUS Act.... By: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

On October 20, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Trading and Markets staff issued FAQs on the SEC’s Innovation Exemption to provide additional guidance to TSVs that seek to rely on the exemption. The FAQs clarify the timing and content of TSV public notices, the treatment of tokenized securities during the issuer objection period, and the availability of information regarding prospective TSV operators.... By: Morgan Lewis

Colorado voters will consider Proposition 137, a statutory ballot measure that would dedicate a portion of existing state sales tax revenue generated from sporting goods and outdoor equipment purchases to conservation, water protection, forest health, wildfire mitigation and outdoor recreation programs. Prop 137 would create a new voter-approved revenue retention mechanism under the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), redirecting an estimated $175 million to $180 million annually from...

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered substituted service of Form 49 on directors of Western Metal Products Company over alleged disobedience of a subsisting court order in a dispute involving United Bank for Africa Plc. Justice Akintayo Aluko made the order following contempt proceedings commenced by UBA against the directors of WEMPCO. […]

On 12 October 2026, the Government launched a consultation seeking views on both the whistleblowing framework under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and, more significantly, a proposed Serious Fraud Office (SFO) scheme to give financial rewards to individuals who report economic crime. The consultation closes on 8 January 2027.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

Former White House attorney Ty Cobb said President Trump would likely skip a mandated deposition or walk out in the middle, which he predicted would lead to the eventual dismissal of the president's lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Company (BBC). Cobb joined CNN’s Erin Burnett Thursday night after a judge said Trump must sit for...

The Supreme Court already has weighed in on aspects of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Now a new case centered on college campuses is headed the justices’ way.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage conducted an extensive study on the effects of influencers and social media on children and adolescents over the past year and released its report in June. The committee, which will soon lead the review of Bill C-34 , produced 13 recommendations including a legally enforceable duty of care, an independent regulator with monetary penalties, safety-by-design requirements, defined categories of harm, and the inclusion of AI chatbots and d

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has directed that businessman and social media influencer Afolabi Michael Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, be returned to the hospital after he was brought to court in an ambulance while receiving oxygen. Justice Musa Kakaki gave the directive on Friday after a nurse attending to Kazeem informed […]

Pre-SCN payment of tax and interest can lead to closure under Section 74(5) on payment of the prescribed 15% penalty where the earlier applicable ruling is followed.

Concurrent orders admitting the Section 7 applications and initiating CIRP against the corporate debtors were upheld.

The Delhi High Court has rejected a petition filed by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora challenging a notice issued by a Special Executive Magistrate directing her to furnish a personal bond of ₹10,000, along with one surety, to maintain peace during the pendency of an inquiry. Justice Subramonium Prasad declined to interfere […]

In this alert, we report on some recent updates on regulatory reforms implemented under the “Measures Package for Large-Scale Solar Power Generation Projects (Mega Solar)” announced during the new Takaichi administration in December 2025.... By: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Texas AG Ken Paxton secured a settlement requiring Temu to strengthen protections for Texans’ personal data and improve product safety standards. The agreement follows a February lawsuit against PDD Holdings Inc. and WhaleCo Inc.. which operates as Temu, alleging the companies exposed Texans’ sensitive personal information to the Chinese Communist Party.... By: Cozen O'Connor

Cancellation and no-show fees arising from a passenger’s failure to travel are damages for breach of the travel contract and not consideration for agreeing to tolerate an act under Section 66E(e).

Where the GST portal refuses a delayed revocation application on technical grounds, the taxpayer may be permitted to file it physically for consideration by the competent authority.

by Prof. Guy Rub, Temple University Beasley School of Law What do Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson do for a living? The obvious answer is that they are Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court. That is...

The Supreme Court has reiterated that prolonged incarceration before the commencement of trial cannot be allowed to become punishment in itself, granting bail to former Rajasthan minister Mahesh Chandra Joshi and Mukesh Pathak, who are accused in a corruption case concerning alleged irregularities in tenders under the Jal Jeevan Mission. A Bench of Justice Dipankar […]

‘Thought he was above the law’: Jury convicts ex-Park City police officer who threatened woman, sexually abused her on-duty A jury convicted a former Park City police officer Wednesday of sexually abusing a woman he pulled over twice, threatening her with criminal charges, prosecutors said, adding that he “thought he was above the law.” Source: Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Proposed closing of 4 low-level prison facilities draws sharp rebuke in Du Quoin A plan to close four downstate correctional facilities drew strong opposition at a public hearing Wednesday in Du Quoin, where critics cited concerns about future upkeep of the facilities and Illinois’ approach to the incarceration of young and low-level offenders. Source: Capitol News Illinois

by Natasa Mavronicola The European Court of Human Rights’ Grand Chamber judgment in Yasak v. Türkiye has rightly attracted extensive discussion, with particular focus on its Article 7 dimension (see, e.g., here and here). In this post, I zoom in on the Article 3 finding in Yasak, which is significant in its own right. The […]

Plus, how recent Supreme Court rulings are shaping the midterm elections.

Court however upheld the provision requiring prior intimation of production to the Magistrate.

The FTC says it has secured a settlement with Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC that could become one of the most closely watched competition-law developments for suppliers, distributors, and retailers in years. The proposed stipulated order, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, would resolve the agency’s 2024 lawsuit... Continue Reading

Check out this week’s Capitol Report for updates on the NJSBA’s advocacy efforts, including its recommended amendments to legislation aimed at expanding access to mental health professionals for young people in Family Court. The report also highlights the NJSBA’s call for volunteer attorneys to provide nonpartisan legal representation to voters turned away from the polls […]

Washington Post reports on the dramatic drop in the processing of naturalization claims, leaving hundreds of thousands of would-be citizens in limbo and unable to vote as the Nov. 3 midterms approach. This is no doubt more a product of… Continue reading

Amounts paid before adjudication are deposits rather than assessed excise duty and statutory interest under Section 35FF is payable from the date of deposit until refund.

Penalty cannot be fastened on Director merely without independent foundation and specific evidence establishing his involvement in handling goods liable to confiscation.

Opponents of the administration’s proposed triumphal arch in Washington have asked a federal judge to halt construction before a planned November 5 start date, escalating what is quickly becoming one of the more closely watched public-law and land-use disputes of the season. The requested emergency injunction puts the court on a fast timeline to decide... Continue Reading

Central Administrative Tribunal, Allahabad Bench, upheld a railway employee’s transfer from Prayagraj to Fatehpur, finding independent administrative grounds and no mala fides despite a leave dispute.

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has reserved judgment until November 24, 2026, in a suit challenging the candidacy of former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, as the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate for the Delta Central Senatorial District. Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa fixed the date after hearing arguments from […]

Filing of the charge-sheet, period of custody and the compoundable nature of the alleged GST offences were considered while granting regular bail without examining the merits of the prosecution case.

A nominal Rs. 25 token collected from approved highway dhabas lacked commercial quid pro quo and did not create a declared service under Section 66E(e).

The 2026 revision of the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) has removed one of its most contested provisions: Article 29(1) which had required Member States to introduce a civil liability regime for violations of the Directive’s human rights due diligence obligations. However, Member States should not deter from harnessing the advantages of private enforcement and provide for civil liability regardless of any legal obligation to do so. In addition, Member States sh

In remarks on July 9, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins argued that the staff’s decision not to issue substantive responses to most exclusions of Securities Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 proposals served as a “proof of concept” for the SEC’s role in shareholder proposals. In his view, giving market participants more responsibility for […]

The Department of Justice has filed United States v. Alaska in federal court. The gist of the case is this: there’s a risk of voter confusion from having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot, and the State of Alaska should… Continue reading

On October 6, 2026, Saul Ewing brought together Maryland government officials and industry professionals for a discussion of the State’s developing Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. The event featured a fireside chat with Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu, followed by a panel moderated by Sarah Seidel that included Elliot Schreur of the Maryland Department of Labor, Sara Cabrejas of Dayforce, and Carrie Fice of Willis Towers Watson.... By: Saul Ewing LLP

Rs. 4.75 lakh CENVAT penalty was three times the statutory ceiling, while the fraud-based and other penalties also failed after the underlying credit demands were found unsustainable or time-barred.

Refund cannot be claimed merely because a later clarification confirms exemption; the underlying self-assessment and the requirements of Section 11B must still be satisfied.

Using call-in powers and antitrust tools to challenge below-threshold transactions is helping to transform merger control in Europe, according to Benoît Cœuré.

10/23/1991: Justice Clarence Thomas takes oath.

“The conclusion that the claims for compensation are time-barred does not, by itself, establish that the statements were true or false, nor does it amount to a finding that the defendants necessarily did or did not make them.”

On Oct. 20, President Trump signed into law H.R. 227, the Clergy Act. The new law (P.L. 119-125) (full text) is summarized by the Congressional Research Service in part as follows:This act establishes a two-year window for members of the clergy who have opted out of Social Security and Medicare taxes (and are thus ineligible for benefits under those programs) to opt back in.Under current law

Bail was granted to a delivery boy accused in a GST fraud, noting he was merely an employee delivering sealed envelopes without financial involvement.

penalty orders passed 175 days after the statutory deadline against the detained vehicles, quashed and ordered to release.

Accused allegedly threatened blasts at Bengaluru airport and shopping malls.

The administration continues its quest to make itself the sole arbiter of what it means to be American.

The Chicago School believed that markets operate best when they are left to organize themselves, and that state regulation only disrupts this process to the detriment of social welfare. Brazil’s Competition Act for Digital Markets, now under legislative debate, reveals the myopia of the Chicago School’s organizing principle and instead supports the heterodox institutionalist position that state activity, whether through activity or abstention, is always at the heart of market formation, writes D

The Trump administration wants to boot U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes from the battle over East Potomac Golf Links, insisting she has shown open hostility. President Trump called her a “crazed lunatic” on social media. The appointee of former President Biden has been assigned nearly a dozen lawsuits challenging major Trump administration actions, The Hill’s...

This article explores recent GSTAT and High Court rulings that explain when differences between ITC claimed in GSTR-3B and credit reflected in GSTR-2A or GSTR-2B can lead to GST demand.

Digest on recent GSTAT rulings which explains when GST disputes involving ITC, audit findings, wrong declarations and taxability can attract Section 74 and when fraud or suppression cannot be presumed.

In a significant ruling upholding consumer rights and cracking down on unfair trade practices, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (Jaipur-II) held snack food giant PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. liable for severe deficiency of service after a packet of its signature ‘Lay’s’ potato chips was found to contain less than a third of its […]

The Delhi High Court has refused to grant regular bail to a man accused of procuring classified military documents and facilitating their alleged transmission to an official of the Pakistan High Commission, holding that the prosecution material warranted continued judicial scrutiny in view of the sensitive nature of the information involved. Justice Sanjeev Narula dismissed […]

When the legislation omitted the GST Rule 96(10) without a saving or sunset clause, it should be conceived that it also applies to the pending cases.

Grave inequity of barring the creditor from raising a defense on the exact same contract.

In Harcharanjeet Bains v. State (NCT of Delhi), the Delhi High Court partly quashed criminal proceedings arising from a matrimonial dispute. The

By Andrew J. Hull & Anne K. Walsh —

The Karnataka High Court has held that a sexual relationship continued on a promise of marriage cannot be called consensual, and set aside a 2018 trial court verdict that had acquitted a man of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation. A Division Bench of Justice H.P. Sandesh and Justice B. Pramod convicted the accused under Sections […]

Opponents of the administration’s proposed triumphal arch in Washington have asked a federal judge to halt construction before a planned November 5 start date, escalating what is quickly becoming one of the more closely watched public-law and land-use disputes of the season. The requested emergency injunction puts the court on a fast timeline to decide...

A magistrate judge orders President Trump to sit for a deposition in a case he's brought against the BBC for defamation.

Fluctuating and contradictory classification stance across various proceedings.

NCLAT Upholds Resolution Plan, Citing CoC’s Commercial Wisdom and Finding No Grounds to Interfere with Valuation or Bid Revision.

The new Return Regulation risks even more discrimination, exclusion, and broad violations, including of privacy and data protection rights Guest post by Galatea Scotti and Chiara Catelli. Galatea is a social anthropologist and PhD researcher at the University of Birmingham. Her doctoral research examines life after deportation in Ghana through an ethnographic and participatory approach, focusing on social relations, masculinity, temporality, and acts of resistance. She has worked in the migratio

The Supreme Court declared a gift of temple inam land to the Tamil Nadu Government void under Section 41, HR&CE Act, 1959, enhanced monthly lease rent to ₹31,000 and directed payment of arrears and costs.

The decision of the U.S.-Mexico General Claims Commission in L.F.H. Neer and Pauline Neer (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States turns 100 this month. Although States have been criticized for relying on Neer ’s definition of the minimum standard of treatment under international law, Neer remains a model for the Commission’s restrained exercise of its power to review the acts of a State. Thus Neer remains useful as guidance on arbitral approach, particularly in cases where the legal standards are uncl

Exemption u/Rule 6DD(e) applies to direct payments made to cultivators, growers, or producers.

M/s. K.P. Mozika v. ONGC, that Section 65(105)(zzzzj) of the Finance Act, 1994, covers the supply of tangible goods for use without transferring right of possession and effective control.

IRDAI has released a consultation paper proposing a comprehensive restructuring of insurance distribution by simplifying distribution architecture, recalibrating commissions and expenses, strengthening consumer safeguards, curbing mis-selling and expanding digital platforms such as Bima Sugam.

In May 2024, the European Union adopted the Pact on Migration and Asylum, a package of ten legislative acts reorganising arrivals, asylum applications, returns and the distribution of responsibility among Member States. Most began to apply on 12 June 2026. One

The Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held that an insurer cannot deny Double Accident Benefit merely because the policyholder’s murder was pre-planned, when it has placed no exclusion clause on record. Setting aside a Moga District Commission order, it directed the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to pay the benefit under four […]

The Karnataka High Court has set aside the conviction of a man under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, holding that he rebutted the statutory presumptions under Sections 118 and 139 through the complainant’s own cross-examination. Justice Geetha K.B. found that the trial court and the appellate court had failed to examine the […]

Decisions by public authorities can have very different effects on different groups of people. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public authorities, including the Home Office, to take those effects into account. The duty is found in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, and it requires public authorities to have due regard to how […]

The court’s ability to validate a document which otherwise does not meet the formal requirements to be a testamentary document ...

The court granted bail to lawyer accused in ITC siphoning case forming a company without getting into merits, noting that he only processed the company papers.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had condemned Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination and, despite disagreeing with some of Gandhi’s political views, did not want him killed, Satyaki Savarkar, the Hindutva ideologue’s grandnephew, told a special MP/MLA court in Pune during cross-examination in a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Satyaki made the statement while being questioned by […]

The petitioner, a Hindu belonging to a Scheduled Caste community, argued that the State cannot impose a religious song on its citizens.

Interest paid by the NDB to resident and Foreign Institutional Investor holders of Maharajah INR bonds is exempt from TDS.

The Patna High Court has held former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar entitled to compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, for land acquired by the Bihar government in 1976, ruling that the Collector lacked jurisdiction to cancel the land’s revenue records without establishing that […]

The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (DV Act) initiated by a wife against her Toronto-based husband, holding that specific allegations had been made against him and that whether domestic violence occurred is a matter of trial. Justice H.P. Sandesh dismissed the criminal […]

High Court questions eviction of 6 shopkeepers without determining leases or proposing rehabilitation or compensation for them.

A dispute arose over the applicability of a notification changing the import policy for studded platinum jewellery from “Free” to “Restricted”, where the consignments had been dispatched and arrived in India before the notification was published, but the Bills of Entry were filed afterwards.

A man who spent 20 years in prison under an indefinite sentence imposed when he was 17 has been released after a court ruled the sentence was a ‘very serious error’, the BBC has reported. Luke Ings, from Bracknell, Berkshire, was sentenced in 2006 after admitting offences including robbery in an underpass and assaulting a […]

The Bombay High Court has held that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) cannot reject joint options for pension on higher wages on the ground that the provident fund Trust Rules of an exempted establishment cap the employer’s contribution or do not provide for such contribution. Allowing six writ petitions filed by retired employees, the […]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that the Principal District Judge, Betul, had no jurisdiction to decide an application under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, because a designated Commercial Court had already been notified for disputes from Betul. The order was therefore a nullity. Setting it aside, the Court returned […]

"While dealing with matters relating to sale or lease of public property, the action of a public authority to recall or revisit the auction process would be justified if the decision is intended to maximise the price for the sale/lease of public property"

Supreme Court calls for a stronger accountability for social media intermediaries and proportionate safeguards to protect children's online safety while recognising the fundamental right to internet access.

A provisional reversal of ITC made during an investigation cannot automatically be treated as self-assessed tax liability unless the underlying GST liability is independently established.

Compensation awarded in cheque dishonour proceedings arises from distinct cause of action and cannot be added to existing civil recovery suit

Rule 42 and 43 reversal cannot be mechanically computed on the entire ITC pool without first identifying specific credit and common credit and applying the prescribed formula.

Right to appeal against HC order directing FIR registration in CMRL–Exalogic case upheld

Eleven apply to fill a 13th Circuit vacancy created by the resignation of Circuit Judge Paul Huey. The following individuals have applied: Judge Michael Baggé-Hernández Judge Cory Chandler Jessica W. O’Connor Michelle A. Doherty Judge Jeremy Griner Judge Daryl Manning Jennifer Lima-Smith Judge Matthew Smith Elizabeth Traverso Judge Miriam Velez Valkenburg Gary S. Weisman The...

A judge should not advocate for passage of a proposed county ordinance outlawing the possession of vaping devices by people under 21 when cases brought under the ordinance could come before the judge, according to the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee. Acting October 21 in Opinion No. 2026-10, the JEAC said the judge’s advocacy could raise...

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has rejected any move to merge or realign the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the existing East-West Road, insisting that both projects are distinct and should proceed independently. Diri, who also serves as Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, disclosed that he personally conveyed his opposition to the Minister of Works, […]

The Federal Government has ruled out an immediate ban on conferences and other large public gatherings following Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case, saying there is currently no evidence of community transmission, even as authorities intensify contact tracing, border surveillance and public sensitisation. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at a […]

President Trump signs executive orders to waive tariffs and establish a women’s health division, and more… The post Week in Review first appeared on The Regulatory Review .

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate publication of Nigeria’s preliminary voters’ register containing more than 103 million registered voters, warning that failure by the Independent National Electoral Commission to make the register available for public scrutiny could undermine confidence in the 2027 general elections. Atiku said Nigerians were entitled to inspect the register, […]

On July 20, 2026, a United States appeals court unanimously overturned certification of a securities class action against The Boeing Company (Boeing), holding that plaintiffs must establish a workable, class-wide methodology for calculating damages at the certification stage. Boeing underscores

Failure to credit tax deducted at source by KSEB requires reassessment after accounting for remitted amount

*Says ”What We Have Now Is Not The Final Voters’ Register, Says Comprehensive Register Will Be Released About One Month To 2027 Polls” The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians that there is no need for apprehension over the voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the comprehensive register will be released […]

On October 13, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (sitting en banc) overruled its four-decade-old precedent in Mason v. Continental Group, Inc., 763 F.2d 1219 (11th Cir. 1985), and its progeny, which required participants to comply with their plan’s internal claims procedures before filing a lawsuit asserting breach of fiduciary duty or other statutory violations under ERISA.... By: Mayer Brown

Predictably, Minnesota once again is in the eye of the storm as the nation heads into critical midterm elections that will take place on November 3. The party in power—in this instance, Republican President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress—historically suffers losses during midterm elections. Although the national sentiment seems to be that Democrats will fare well in the midterms overall, Minnesota presents a unique and unpredictable set of circumstances.... By: Stinson LLP

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of its new Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP) on October 20, 2026, which makes tipsters eligible for an award of $10,000 to $30,000 in fast-track payments for information leading to criminal charges. The goal of the program is to incentivize whistleblowers with the promise of a quick payment at the charging stage instead of having to wait for the legal process to take its course.... By: Baker Donelson

On August 27, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1316 (SB 1316), adding section 1742.05 to the California Labor Code. Effective January 1, 2027, the new section creates a potentially case-dispositive consequence for public works contractors and subcontractors that do not timely produce requested payroll, time, and employment records: They may be unable to introduce, use, rely on, or use the withheld records to dispute penalties or for impeachment at the administrative... B

A Narrow Fourth Exception - On October 15, 2026, the SEC approved FINRA’s proposed amendment to Rule 2210 (Communications with the Public), creating a fourth exception to the rule’s general prohibition on communications that predict or project performance.... By: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

RM & Assocs. Consulting, Inc. v. People's Trust Ins. Co., 2026 Fla. App. LEXIS 4654 (Fla. 4th DCA 2026) - The Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s order awarding appellate fees to People’s Trust Insurance Company based upon a lack of evidence to support the attorney’s fee award in RM & Assocs. Consulting, Inc. v. People's Trust Ins. Co., 2026 Fla. App. LEXIS 4654 (Fla. 4th DCA 2026).... By: Marshall Dennehey

On September 10, 2026, the USPTO issued an Official Gazette notice, Update to Panels for Pre-Appeal and Appeal Conferences, that lets Administrative Patent Judges (APJs) of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) take part in the examiner-level conferences that precede an ex parte appeal decision. The change took effect on issuance and remains in place until further notice. It does not alter any substantive standard of patentability. But it changes who may be reviewing an applicant’s arguments.

Businesses selling subscriptions to UK consumers should prepare for operational changes ahead of the proposed 1 January 2027 implementation. Our Payments & Fintech Team explores who will be affected, the potential penalties for noncompliance, and what businesses should do now to prepare.... By: Alston & Bird

For years, New York stood out for not having a law relating to employees’ access to their personnel files. Bills on the issue dating back to 2021 repeatedly stalled in the Legislature. The current session’s version, Senate Bill S3460 (modeled after Massachusetts’s Personnel Records Law and introduced by Senator Andrew Gounardes) passed the Senate in June 2025, only to stall again in the Assembly. It finally cleared both houses in May 2026, and Governor Hochul signed it on September 9 as Chapter.

Where recipient branches are eligible for full Input Tax Credit and the Head Office has not issued an invoice, the value of inter-office services may be treated as ‘Nil’ under Rule 28 of the CGST Rules.

On October 21, 2026, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance published a handful of new Corporation Finance Interpretations, or CFIs, as well as revised and withdrew some previously existing CFIs.... By: Mayer Brown Free Writings + Perspectives

On October 5, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman sent a warning letter to 24 of the country’s largest health care organizations, and published an anonymized version of the letter, reminding the organizations of their ongoing obligation to “provide patients with timely, accurate, and complete pricing” information related to the receipt of health care services.... By: Robinson+Cole Health Law Diagnosis

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday asked an appeals court to intervene in its lawsuit against California to temporarily block the state from counting more than 20,000 mail-in ballots cast by what the Trump administration claims are from non-U.S. citizens. The request, made to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, came before a...

CNN via Yahoo Finance: “Two congressional Democrats are warning about the risks of the Trump administration’s cuts to a weather satellite program after a report from the Government Accountability Office found that the administration’s changes to the program “could put vital weather observations at risk.” In a Monday letter to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ...

Above the Law: “It’s been a rough couple of years at the Justice Department. On her first day in office, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi made declining to sign a brief a fireable offense. Later, rather than stop asking her lawyers to do things that could get them disciplined, she tried to take over bar discipline ...

October 1 is the International Day of Older Persons. The day honors what older people contribute to society. It also draws attention to age discrimination. So, is an employee close to retirement treated unfairly because of her age if her employer offers her a workspace next to trainees?

British Columbia employers with fifty or more employees are fast approaching their first reporting deadline under the province’s Pay Transparency Act . Employers that had fifty or more employees on January 1, 2026, must prepare and publish their first pay transparency reports on or before November 1, 2026. This is the final phase of a reporting regime that began in 2024 with the province’s largest employers.

This update summarises the key findings and regulatory expectations set out in the SFC’s October Circular and considers their implications

I predicted this morning that the DOJ’s request for the federal court to rule on its TRO motion by noon today (rather than to wait for the already set hearing on October 27) would lead it to attempt to leapfrog … Continue reading

A Mississippi federal judge's careless use of artificial intelligence tools led to "sloppy edicts" riddled with "falsehoods and fabrications," the Fifth Circuit held in a Thursday night opinion removing the judge from litigation over an anti-DEI law in the Magnolia State because of his "extraordinarily grave errors."

"Given the embarrassment of the AI hallucinations and mistakes of law in the two TROs and the preliminary injunction, it would be an understandable—though obviously unjust—temptation for the judge to want to find a way to prove that, even with correct law and fact, his initial view should prevail," Judge Jerry Smith wrote for the appellate court.

“Given the embarrassment of the AI hallucinations and mistakes of law in the two TROs and the preliminary injunction, it would be an understandable—though obviously unjust—temptation for the judge to want to find a way to prove that, even with correct law and fact, his initial view should prevail,” Judge Jerry Smith wrote for the...

America 250: California Supreme Court Justices Reflect on Justice and the Rule of LawKaren.Datangel Mon, 06/29/2026 - 10:13 America 250: California Supreme Court Justices Reflect on Ju... Alternate Player

Only 62% of MDL judges were white in 2025, and 32% of those were white men, who made up less than half for the first time in 2018, according to Law.com data.

[U.S.] Supreme Court Blocks Trump From Denying Gender-Transition Care to Federal Prisonersnatalie.l.ston… Wed, 10/21/2026 - 10:04 NewsLink The ruling means that, for now, as many as 1,000 federal prisoners who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria will continue to receive gender transition treatments that the Trump administration has attempted to restrict.

Judicial Profile: San Bernardino County Judge Stephanie E. Thornton-Harrisnatalie.l.ston… Thu, 10/22/2026 - 10:49 NewsLink (Subscription required) San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Stephanie E. Thornton-Harris draws on a career spanning corporate law, criminal defense, and juvenile proceedings to make the courts accessible to litigants while maintaining order and fairness.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has withdrawn decisions not to investigate a solicitor after being threatened with a judicial review.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled New Hampshire’s top election official can fully stop voters from using their student IDs when showing up to the polls in the midterms — a request backed by the Republican National Committee (RNC). A lower judge ruled officials had improperly gone further than a new state law placing restrictions on...

A Louisiana appeals court is testing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve daily court work. The court has bought two AI servers to explore how the technology can help judges and court staff. The Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal bought two AI servers for about $65,000 each. The court installed the servers in Gretna, Louisiana, […] The post Louisiana Court Invests in AI Servers for Faster Workflows first appeared on JDJournal Blog .

President Bola Tinubu has appointed the immediate past Director-General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Security Studies. The appointment, which takes effect from Thursday, October 22, 2026, is for an initial term of four years. The National Institute for Security Studies disclosed […]

The State Security Service has secured another major conviction in its prosecution of kidnapping and terrorism-related offences after the Adamawa State High Court sentenced three men to death over the kidnapping of two Catholic priests in February 2025. Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Christopher Mapeo found Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medan and Mikaila Yusuf guilty of […]

“A lot of ministers pay billions and billions to get themselves appointed. The first thing they think of is how to recoup that money,” Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, has alleged. Hassan made the claim during a television interview while defending President Bola Tinubu’s approach to government expenditure and responding […]

Politico ‘s polling shows many voters (notwithstanding the headline’s emphasis on Republicans) would like Congress to govern. “A new POLITICO poll shows that 66% of Republican voters this midterm want a Democratic House to find common ground with President Donald… Continue reading

Spectrum : “Inside the Issues” host Amrit Singh speaks with Dean Logan, registrar-recorder and county clerk for Los Angeles County, and Bob Page, Orange County registrar of voters, about the Department of Justice’s election lawsuit against California.

Bloomberg: The US Supreme Court lifted a ruling that would have allowed use of student-ID cards to help show eligibility to vote in New Hampshire, siding with Republicans in a state where Democrats are defending a Senate seat next month.… Continue reading

New York Department of Labor Issues Guidance on “Trapped at Work Act” The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) issued guidance on the Trapped at Work Act, addressing several important questions about existing agreements, voluntary benefits, and permissible repayment obligations, about which we ehubert@littler.com Thu, 10/22/2026 - 17:06

The Trump administration has abandoned its effort to defend challenged changes to the student-loan forgiveness program, a move that materially shifts the litigation even though the key district-court rulings were issued earlier. By stepping back from the appeal fight, the government is effectively leaving in place lower-court decisions concluding that the U.S. Department of Education...

The Trump administration has abandoned its effort to defend challenged changes to the student-loan forgiveness program, a move that materially shifts the litigation even though the key district-court rulings were issued earlier. By stepping back from the appeal fight, the government is effectively leaving in place lower-court decisions concluding that the U.S. Department of Education... Continue Reading

NBC News: Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday left open the possibility that the Justice Department could seek to block states from certifying votes in the midterm elections, though he said it wasn’t his intention to “improperly interfere with elections.”… Continue reading

PTAB holds CBD formulation claims indefinite over a dual-role ingredient and treats an Apple claim's instruction to a phone as printed matter. Continue reading this post on Patently-O.

From N.Y. State Div. of Hum. Rts. V. D. Auxilly NYC LLC, decided today by New York appellate judges Sallie

The Federal Trade Commission is taking a closer look at Curium’s $8 billion acquisition of radiopharmaceutical drugmaker Lantheus. The merging parties disclosed receiving a second request on Wednesday, with Kirkland & Ellis and Ropes & Gray handling antitrust aspects of the deal. Also in Tipline, Senator Elizabeth Warren issued a lengthy report condemning the second Trump administration’s ...

Governors in 36 states are on the ballot this Election Day, and some of those races could do more to reshape workplace law in 2027 than anything that happens in Congress. Minimum wage, paid leave, union rules, and workplace AI policy are just some of the issues at stake depending on the outcome of a few key gubernatorial races, not to mention several attorney general and labor commissioner contests. Here are the state races employers should watch most closely, grouped by how each one could... By

Senators Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell are calling on Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson to wrap up the agency’s long-running study of pharmacy benefit managers, arguing that a final report is necessary to determine whether current antitrust laws are adequate.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released findings from a yearlong review of nine of the largest national banks it supervises by asset size, covering the period from 2020 through September 2025.... By: Cooley LLP

On September 30, 2026, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1199 (AB 1199), and it will take effect on January 1, 2027. This new law extends the required medical staff reappointment cycle in California from two years to three.... By: Hanson Bridgett

The Federal Circuit handed down companion decisions in Estate of Paul Bruyea v. United States and Christensen v. United States, which reversed two taxpayer-favorable rulings from the Court of Federal Claims.... By: Hone Maxwell

On 9 October 2026, the Milan section of the Central Division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) rejected Biogaran’s revocation action against Lundbeck’s European patent EP 4 223 296 (UPC_CFI_1587/2025).... By: McDermott Will & Schulte

Case Name: Vertex Pharms. Inc. v. Lupin Ltd., No. 22-cv-966-SB, 2026 WL 2474714 (D. Del. Aug. 24, 2026) (Bibas, J.) Drug Product and Patent(s)-in-Suit: Kalydeco® (ivacaftor); U.S. Patent Nos. 10,646,481 (“the ’481 patent”), 11,564,916 (“the ’916 patent”), 12,458,635 (“the ’635 patent”), and 10,272,046 (“the ’046 patent”)... By: Robins Kaplan LLP

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission released a report today titled “EU Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights” on results at the EU border and in the EU internal market in 2025. The report explained that “over 196 million counterfeit articles were detained at the EU border and in the EU internal market, with an estimated retail value of EUR 6.3 billion.” Detention volume rose over 67% from 2024, and the estimated value surpassed 2024 by almost

Skadden has submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on proposed Regulation Crypto Assets (Regulation CA). The letter supports the SEC’s goal of creating a tailored offering regime that promotes capital formation and accommodates innovation while protecting investors.... By: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

In October 2025, New York (the “State”) enacted Senate Bill S7882, adding Section 340-b to the New York General Business Law (the “Statute”), as outlined in our prior discussion of the legislation.... By: Vinson & Elkins LLP

An SEC formal order of investigation is an order authorizing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforcement staff to conduct a formal investigation and, when authorized, exercise subpoena powers.... By: The Law Firm of David R. Chase P.A.

The California Civil Rights Council has released proposed regulations addressing pregnancy-related leave, workplace accommodations, and temporary transfers, as well as child bonding leave. The proposal would update regulations implementing the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA).... By: Jackson Lewis P.C.

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published the findings of a two-year supervision programme examining leading generative AI foundation model developers. The report sets out the ICO’s expectations for organisations using personal data to train AI models and identifies key areas of regulatory concern.... By: K&L Gates LLP

Companies with employees who are work authorized pursuant to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are facing an unusual compliance problem. The TPS designations for El Salvador (scheduled to end September 9, 2026) and for Sudan and Ukraine (scheduled to end October 19, 2026) have passed their expiration dates without a Federal Register notice either extending or terminating them.... By: Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

On October 14, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Statement of Delegation of Authority in which Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. delegated to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the Secretary’s permissive exclusion authorities under Section 1128(b) of the Social Security Act.... By: Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

In this edition of IRS Roundup, we cover Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and US Department of the Treasury guidance addressing potentially abusive investment-fund strategies, installment payments for qualifying farmland sales, Trump Accounts, the new federal scholarship tax credit, and digital-asset staking by investment trusts.... By: McDermott Will & Schulte

On September 29, 2026, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released proposed emergency amendments to the regulations governing its Opt-In Certification Program.... By: Allen Matkins

On October 6, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) submitted a draft proposal to rescind its 2012 Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII (“Guidance”).... By: Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

On July 30, 2026, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, issued a Rule 23 opinion in Marchi v. Centrust Bank, N.A., 2026 IL App (1st) 231476-U,1 affirming a trial court’s finding that a secured lender’s private UCC Article 9 sale of a borrower’s assets was not commercially reasonable.... By: Thompson Coburn LLP

TAMPA, FL—Hill Ward Henderson announced that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed attorney Gregory P. Brown to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 13th Judicial Circuit. In this role, Brown will contribute his extensive legal experience to Florida’s judicial selection process. Judicial Nominating Commissions are responsible for evaluating applicants for judicial vacancies and […]

On October 20, 2026, the Department of Justice and its National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, or WHIP. DOJ calls it the first whistleblower program to pay an up-front award for tips that lead to criminal charges, rather than waiting for a case to reach final resolution.... By: Husch Blackwell LLP

On October 13, 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) issued an advance notice of contemplated rulemaking outlining two related initiatives concerning retail crypto asset transactions under Section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”).... By: Sullivan & Worcester

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently signed Executive Order No. 2026-6, “Establishing Ethical Procurement Standards to Protect Taxpayers and Our Communities,” directing the city’s chief procurement officer to issue new procurement rules that could affect both current and prospective city contractors.... By: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

On September 17, 2026, the SEC issued a five-year exemptive order—the “Innovation Exemption”—which allows certain trading platforms called tokenized securities venues (“TSVs”) that use blockchain technology to trade tokenized versions of exchange-listed, national market system (“NMS”) stocks.... By: Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

As governments increasingly focus on cloud security and sovereignty, the European Commission (“EC”) is, through its proposal for a Cloud and AI Development Act (“CADA Proposal”), attempting to create a regime establishing “sovereignty” requirements on cloud computing service providers that can be procured by the public sector. In our prior blog post, we discussed the... Continue Reading

The Maryland Department of Labor has issued the required Maryland Worker Freedom Act notice in English and Spanish. The Act generally prohibits employers from penalizing employees and applicants who decline employer-sponsored meetings conveying the employer’s views on religious or political matters, including union membership.... By: Jackson Lewis P.C.

On October 15, 2026, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division” or “Division”) and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) announced a coordinated policy (“Policy”) regarding voluntary self-disclosures involving healthcare fraud.... By: Goodwin

A federal district court in Chicago has handed prediction market operators a significant win on state licensing – and, at the same time, left the door open on state taxation. In Coinbase Financial Markets v. Raoul (consolidated with United States v. Illinois and KalshiEX v. Raoul), Nos. 1:25-cv-15406, 1:26-cv-03659 and 1:26-cv-07363 (N.D. Ill.), Judge Martha M. Pacold granted in part and continued in part motions for a preliminary injunction in a memorandum opinion and order dated October 2,...

Forecasts currently favor Democrats to win back control of the US House of Representatives when the dust settles after the November 3 midterm elections, and employers have questions about what that could mean for them. While a change in House control is still uncertain and wouldn’t by itself lead to federal workplace law changes given the slim margin expected in the Senate no matter which party is in control (not to mention a potential Presidential veto), a new Democratic House majority would...

The project offers an early indication of the policy ideas and priorities Democratic legislators may advance in 2027.... By: Latham & Watkins LLP

On October 15, Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald issued a Memo announcing new coordination between the National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding self-disclosure in criminal health care fraud matters.... By: Rivkin Radler LLP

The judge found the department's field operations to identify noncitizens who voted likely violated the Voting Rights Act, which bars voter intimidation.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21), or H.R. 1, signed into law on July 4, 2025, is the biggest federal budget reconciliation package in years. For Illinois, it puts billions in healthcare funding and food assistance at risk. Medicaid financing changes alone could cost the state billions in lost federal revenue, with provider-tax restrictions estimated to reach roughly $2B per year once fully phased in by 2032.... By: McGuireWoods Consulting

As governments increasingly focus on cloud security and sovereignty, the European Commission (“EC”) is, through its proposal for a Cloud and AI Development Act (“CADA Proposal”), attempting to create a regime establishing “sovereignty” requirements on cloud computing service providers that can be procured by the public sector. In our prior blog post, we discussed the... Continue Reading

New York is close to tightening its PFAS drinking water limits and companies with any PFAS history should begin evaluating their potential exposure now. Recently, the legislature passed a bill that would reduce the state’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS from 10 parts per trillion (ppt) to 4 ppt.... By: MG+M The Law Firm

Ohio has taken a significant step in the growing battle against prediction markets. The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) confirmed at its October 21, 2026, meeting that it has issued cease-and-desist letters to sports gaming and fantasy contest licensees and applicants who are involved in the offering of sports event contracts to Ohio customers.... By: Holland & Knight LLP

Two Regulations supplementing the Central Securities Depositories Regulation No 909/2014 (CSDR) have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ).... By: A&O Shearman

On October 1, 2026, significant amendments to the District of Columbia’s Paid Family Leave (“PFL”) program took effect as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act of 2026. While the changes do not alter employer contribution requirements or core compliance obligations, they do reduce the amount of leave available for certain types of claims and lower the maximum weekly benefit available to employees.... By: Conn Maciel Carey LLP

A biopharmaceutical securities fraud class action has produced a significant ruling on a question courts are increasingly confronting: when a defendant argues that meme-stock dynamics infected its stock price, can a court simply check off the traditional market efficiency factors and certify a class? The Fifth Circuit recently answered no.... By: Hicks Johnson

In nearly every legislative session for the last several years, the California Legislature has amended changes to laws governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). 2026 is no exception, as Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 956 and Senate Bill 1117 on September 29, 2026, effective January 1, 2027.... By: Best Best & Krieger LLP

An UNCITRAL tribunal hearing a US$200 billion claim by Kazakhstan against the consortium that operates the Kashagan oil field has reportedly held that around US$12 billion worth of the state’s claims are time-barred.

Anthropic has had mixed results in challenging its designation as a supply chain risk by the U.S. government.... By: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

Healthcare affordability is top of mind for voters heading into the midterm elections, and the results could have significant implications for healthcare policy in 2027. In the latest episode of "Midterm Minute," Senior Policy Advisor Miranda Franco breaks down how different election outcomes could shape the healthcare policy landscape and where bipartisan action may be possible regardless of which party controls Congress. She also examines how shifts in House control could affect issues such as

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published a consultation report on proposed regulatory and supervisory modernisation principles.... By: A&O Shearman

The Negative Lists raise the thresholds that trigger data export mechanisms, easing compliance burdens and exempting certain transfers from the need for a data transfer mechanism.... By: Latham & Watkins LLP

The Victorian Supreme Court has confirmed that different respondents may separately refer the same medical question to differently constituted Medical Panels. In Baressi v Cross Yarra Partnerships & Ors [2026] VSC 666, the Court also held that a later panel is not bound by an earlier panel’s decision and is not required to provide reasons for its determination.... By: Kennedys

Effective October 1, 2026, New Jersey’s Department of Labor has, for the first time, put the state’s “ABC test” for worker classification into black-letter regulation. For construction subcontractors, the quiet part is now written down — and it is not good news for the way much of the industry actually operates.... By: Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC

In Land Design Inc. v. Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corp., the Divisional Court confirmed two important procurement principles: not every procurement decision is subject to judicial review, and bidders bear responsibility for compliance with no-contact rules across their organizations. The case arose from an Infrastructure Ontario (IO) procurement for contract administration services on the Ontario Place redevelopment project (Project), where the proponent (Proponent) was disqualified after.

[This post was co-authored with Professor Seth Barrett Tillman.] There have been many news reports suggesting that the United States

On October 13, 2026, Formycon and Zydus announced that the FDA accepted for review the Biologics License Application for FYB206, a proposed biosimilar to Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab). This is the first publicly announced FDA acceptance of an application for a proposed KEYTRUDA® biosimilar.... By: Goodwin

On October 16, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requested that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review a final rule rescinding the interpretive portions of the EEOC’s version of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (UGESP), 29 C.F.R. Part 1607.... By: Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,

The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Almost a year after the European Commission published its long-awaited legislative proposal on 20 November 2025, the colegislative process is now well advanced.... By: A&O Shearman

Those of us who have been following the Lion Elastomers saga know it has been a long road.... By: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

On September 10, 2026, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) issued an industry letter providing guidance on how to conduct and use the risk assessments mandated by the cybersecurity requirements under 23 NYCRR Part 500 (the “Cybersecurity Regulations”).... By: WilmerHale

The Department of Home Affairs is currently reviewing submissions made during the consultation period for its Tranche 2 reforms to the SOCI Act.... By: Ashurst Perkins Coie

On October 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and its National Fraud Enforcement Division (the “Fraud Division”) announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (“WHIP”), styled in its published terms as the Criminal Tip Rewards Pilot Program and subject to an initial three-year term. DOJ describes WHIP as the first federal whistleblower rewards program to pay an award when criminal charges are filed rather than after a matter is resolved.... By: Womble Bond Dickinson

Judges’ elections often lack vital candidate information, leaving voters uninformed. The Trellis Judicial Voter Guide consolidates judges’ data to empower voters, aligning with Trellis’s mission to enhance legal accessibility. The post Trellis Judicial Voter Guide: Get to Know California’s Judges first appeared on The Trellis Blog.

On January 1, 2027, California’s Senate Bill 574 will become law, making significant changes to the legal tech landscape and impacting legal professionals using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in their practice. SB 574 makes changes to various California statutes: it adds Business and Professions Code section 6068.1 and amends Section 6173, and it also amends […]

Last year, Assembly Bill 692 limited the use of “stay or pay” contracts by California employers. These contracts typically pay a signing bonus or an amount for education or training and require the employee to work for a specific period of time over which the bonus or training payment is earned and require the employee to return some or all or some of the bonus or training amount if the employee fails to complete that period of employment.... By: Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's human drug enforcement program is substantially larger, broader in scope, and more centralized than it was two years ago. Moreover, the composition of enforcement activity has shifted in ways that should prompt pharmaceutical manufacturers to reassess their compliance risks.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

On October 15, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) in order to establish a comprehensive blanket authorization program for liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants.... By: White & Case LLP

Whenever a legal argument goes too far for the other conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are right there to encourage activists to try again soon.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program (WHIP), a three-year pilot program that provides fixed payments of $10,000 to $30,000 for qualifying tips that lead to criminal charges in specified fraud categories, including health care and certain federal benefit programs.... By: Ballard Spahr LLP

The New York State Department of Labor has proposed regulations providing details on New York’s new workplace opioid antagonist (e.g., naloxone or Narcan) requirements, which take effect December 13, 2026.... By: Seyfarth Shaw LLP

On October 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced the first civil penalty under its Outbound Investment Security Program (OISP). This was a $200,000 penalty against Amidi LLC, a U.S. investment firm and parent entity of the Plug and Play Tech Center, for failing to notify Treasury of a $92,478 investment by its Chinese subsidiary in a Chinese robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and embodied intelligence company.... By: Paul Hastings LLP

On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance that sets out the agency’s recommendations on nonclinical testing, clinical data, and labeling for premarket submissions involving certain robotically assisted surgical devices (RASDs). The FDA is accepting comments through November 24, 2026. Like all draft guidance, the document is not binding on the FDA or the public. The draft describes RASDs as teleoperated, software-controlled systems that assist... B

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published Market Watch 86, setting out its observations from supervisory visits to UK retail brokerage firms on the systems, controls and governance arrangements they use to identify and report potential market abuse.... By: A&O Shearman

On September 24, 2026, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) announced the introduction of two bills “that would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to protect biotechnology data and infrastructure from malicious actors.”... By: Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

January 1, 2027, is less than three months away. On that date, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.225-7052 (MAY 2024) expands by its own terms, potentially making material in an organization’s stock compliant on December 31, 2026, and noncompliant one day later. A post-2026 delivery under an agreement containing that clause may be barred because of covered-country mining, refining or separation, even if the material was previously placed in inventory.... By: Pillsbury

On October 15, 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered its judgment in NEO GROUP (C-203/25) on the anti-abuse rule in the Parent-Subsidiary Directive (PSD).... By: A&O Shearman

The SEC has approved amendments to FINRA Rule 2210 that will permit broker-dealers to include projected performance and targeted returns in communications concerning securities, securities portfolios, asset allocations, and other investment strategies, subject to specified conditions.... By: Morgan Lewis

New York City may soon become the most aggressive consumer-protection jurisdiction in the country, and enforcement would come through private lawsuits rather than through a regulator.... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

The Senate on Thursday moved to investigate the governing structures of public and private universities across Nigeria over alleged violations of statutory requirements, as it intensified efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve research funding and protect vulnerable coastal communities from environmental devastation. The upper chamber resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate Tansian […]

The ongoing trial of Ojobo Joshua and Aliyu Hashim, who allegedly impersonated the Personal Assistant to the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, continued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, with the second prosecution witness, PW2, Tanko […]

A federal judge in Miami has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion defamation suit against the BBC, moving the case into a more consequential discovery phase and raising the stakes for both sides. The lawsuit centers on a documentary-related dispute involving edited footage from Trump’s... Continue Reading

A federal judge in Miami has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion defamation suit against the BBC, moving the case into a more consequential discovery phase and raising the stakes for both sides. The lawsuit centers on a documentary-related dispute involving edited footage from Trump’s...

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday granted an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to play part of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from its facility in the ₦10 billion suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Justice Chigozie Onah, in a ruling on […]

Each year, Take the Fifth blog compiles and analyzes key statistics from the opinions issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. While the Fifth Circuit itself compiles and releases statistics on a July-to-June period, we run our analysis on an October-to-September period to coincide with the U.S. Supreme Court’s term, and also try to capture different and more granular forms of data. Following are a few of Take the Fifth’s observations from the October 1, 2025, through September

Two bank officials have testified before the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja in the ongoing trial of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, over allegations involving $385,000 and ₦165.4 million belonging to the corporation. Okhiria is standing trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi on a seven-count charge bordering on […]

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) on Thursday denied two petitions for writ of mandamus arguing the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia abused its discretion in transferring three related patent infringement suits to the Northern District of Illinois.

On October 1, 2026, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed significant changes to the custody frameworks for registered investment advisers, registered investment companies (registered funds), and business development companies (BDCs). The SEC’s release (the Custody Proposal) would create new pathways for adviser self-custody and state trust company custody of crypto assets, while modernizing certain custody requirements under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended...

Several recent enforcement actions by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) show they are aggressively targeting the technology sector’s permanent labor certification (“PERM”) recruitment practices.... By: Morrison & Foerster LLP

Vermont has joined the growing number of states placing new limits on private equity investment in health care. Effective July 1, 2026, Act 133 (18 V.S.A. chapter 233) restricts the authority that private equity groups, hedge funds, and their controlled entities may exercise over clinical and certain operational decisions at Vermont health care facilities. The law also requires health care facilities and management services organizations (MSOs) to disclose specified ownership and control... By:

n a recent decision, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny, Jr. of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey dismissed breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by Rite Aid Corporation’s post-confirmation litigation trustee against 23 former directors and officers for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Judge Poslusny found that the confirmed plan’s retention of jurisdiction provisions were too general to establish the “close nexus” required for post-confirmation “related to”..

On September 25, 2026, the Irish supervisory authority (DPC) published its report entitled “Responsible Artificial Intelligence Innovation: Insights from the Data Protection Commission’s Supervision of AI (2021-2025)” (the Report).... By: A&O Shearman

Digital accessibility continues to be at the forefront of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC” or “Commission”) agenda. After ordering video conferencing services to begin complying with the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), the FCC is now looking inward and seeking public feedback on how to modernize its accessibility framework in response to rapid changes in the consumer technology marketplace.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

On October 19, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Ukrainians and Sudanese enrolled in the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program will "retain protection" even though their eligibility was set to expire that day. The continuance means these foreign nationals are protected from deportation and can lawfully continue to work for their employers for an indefinite period of time.... By: Phelps Dunbar

Polyamory Protections Spread as Cities Rewrite Civil Rights Laws As more cities around the country pass protections for more diverse sexualities, Fay Saechao says employers should monitor the local laws where they operate and update their company policies and handbooks to reflect any changes. Bloomberg Law View (Subscription required) mfelling@littler.com Thu, 10/22/2026 - 10:36

On 14 October, the European Commission (EC) issued its Sixth Annual Report on FDI screening in the Union, providing an overview of FDI trends in the 27 EU Member States in 2025.... By: White & Case LLP

3rd Circ. Has Made Hybrid Wage Settlements Easier Christian Angotti and Christopher Michalski discuss the impact of the Lundeen v. 10 West Ferry Street Operations LLC decision, a tip-pooling case involving proposed collective action claims under the FLSA and proposed class action claims under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act, one year later. Law360 Employment Authority View (Subscription required) mfelling@littler.com Thu, 10/22/2026 - 10:30

On October 14, 2026, Vermont Attorney General (AG) Charity Clark announced a settlement with UniFirst based on allegations that the company did not comply with Vermont’s auto-renewal law.... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

The Federal Reserve and the FDIC have extended until Nov. 4 the deadline for comments on a proposal governing extension of credit by banks to their executive officers, directors, principal shareholders, and their related interests.... By: Ballard Spahr LLP

The UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have published policy statement PS19/26 / PS26/20 confirming changes to the loan-to-income (LTI) flow limit rule for mortgage lending.... By: A&O Shearman

On October 2, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a proposed settlement resolving its lawsuit against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (Southern Glazer’s), the nation's largest wine and spirits distributor, under the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), the federal statute that prohibits certain forms of price discrimination.... By: Ashurst Perkins Coie

'Labor Court' Plan Has Legal Issues, Panel Says Alexander MacDonald says a NYU Law labor law professor’s proposal to refashion the NLRB into a special court that exists outside the executive branch would be struck down by the Supreme Court because it would adjudicate private rights. Law360 Employment Authority View (Subscription required) mfelling@littler.com Thu, 10/22/2026 - 10:21

On September 17, 2026, 20 state attorneys general (AGs) led by Alabama AG Steve Marshall issued a letter to the federal government concerning Chinese-sourced ingredients in compounded GLP-1 drugs and peptides.... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

The case over the Trump Administration’s illegal and unprecedented request for Los Angeles to segregate ballots from an unknown number of people on the federal government’s possible noncitizen list was transferred yesterday to Judge Carter, as a related case to… Continue reading

In October 2026, FERC’s Office of Electric Reliability, Division of Cyber Security released its annual Lessons Learned from Commission-Led CIP Reliability Audits summarizing findings from audits conducted during fiscal year 2026.... By: Morgan Lewis - Power & Pipes

Midterms Carry Hefty Stakes For Labor, Observers Say Shannon Meade says the Faster Labor Contracts Act could gain more traction in the next Congress if Democrats pick up seats in the midterms. Law360 Employment Authority View (Subscription required) mfelling@littler.com Thu, 10/22/2026 - 10:14

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released enforcement actions for October 2026.

SCOTUS declines Wilcox appeal; Penn State research assistants win bargaining rights; SEIU sued over military leave firing.

On October 6, 2026, the Connecticut Banking Commissioner issued an order imposing $2.1 million in civil penalties on an out of state debt relief company and the two managers who ran it. The company was assessed $1.2 million, one manager $600,000, and the other $300,000. The order follows a temporary cease and desist order issued on August 18, 2026, which also required the respondents to make restitution and disgorge their fees...... By: Shipkevich PLLC

On October 8, 2026, 34 state financial regulatory agencies announced a $2.5 million settlement with a Seattle based money transmitter that operates virtual currency kiosks. The most significant term is not the penalty. The company agreed to end its kiosk operations in the participating states by January 1, 2027, and will owe an additional $4 million penalty if it misses that deadline. The enforcement effort was led by Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington....

Bankruptcy filings increased 11.4 percent in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2026, compared with the previous year.

The Lagos State High Court has granted interim preservative orders in favour of United Bank for Africa Plc against Vitol S.A., a Switzerland-based energy trading company, in a dispute arising from the alleged diversion and non-delivery of petroleum products said to have been consigned to the bank. UBA had approached the court seeking Mareva injunctive […]

A Florida magistrate judge ruled Wednesday that Miami Beach hotel Fontainebleau may obtain some of rabbi and media personality Shmuley Boteach's AI chats about the hotel and its personnel, saying they could help determine punitive damages in the defamation suit against him by showing whether he intended to harm the company.

The “secret wish” behind the European Commission’s upcoming merger guidelines is to encourage parties to pursue more ambitious transactions, according to the enforcer’s deputy director general for mergers.

Former Republican Congressman Peter Roskam, who leads BakerHostetler’s Federal Policy team, provides listeners with a front-row seat to the most important policy debates in Congress. In this episode of “The Cloakroom with Peter Roskam,” Peter is joined by his BakerHostetler colleague, former Democratic Congressman Heath Shuler. Also joining the podcast is Jim Ellis, a 35-year veteran of federal politics and election forecasting. They will discuss the 2026 midterm elections. Will Democrats... By:

The President of the Enugu State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice George Chibueze Nnamani, has called for urgent structural reforms to strengthen judicial independence in Nigeria and across West Africa, warning that executive control over judicial finances and disregard for court decisions weaken the rule of law and create conditions for corruption. Justice Nnamani made […]

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) recently proposed numerous changes to Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 5122-29, which governs the behavioral health services that DBH-certified providers may provide. The proposed rule changes would rescind and replace several existing rules, amend others, and create a new service category and rule for adult crisis services.... By: Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

On October 19, 2026, the UK government published draft guidance on the country’s new consumer subscription contracts regime. This regime, which is set to come into force on January 1, 2027, will introduce new requirements for traders to provide transparent information to consumers, deliver renewal reminders, provide simple cancellation mechanisms, and respect cooling-off rights. The government also previously announced that it will consult on whether certain pricing practices, including “fake”..

On Oct. 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released long-awaited temporary and proposed regulations implementing the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (the “FSTC”) created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”). Both were published in the Federal Register on Oct. 2, 2026. The temporary regulations (the “Temporary Regulations”) generally govern how States elect to participate and submit their lists of scholarship granting... By: Br

We recently hosted a webinar titled “DEA Enforcement in a Changing Cannabis Landscape, Rescheduling Hemp, and What Comes Next”. We had just one hour to cover topics that could easily fill several hours of discussion. Unsurprisingly, the chat was buzzing with questions, and we were unable to get to all of them. This post addresses

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Abraham Idowu Abiara before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over an alleged $626,282 fraud. Abiara was arraigned on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a one-count charge bordering on stealing and dishonest conversion of funds. According to the EFCC, the defendant […]

The Trump administration has abandoned its goal to reform the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, dropping a legal fight over the changes this week. The Education Department wanted to place limits on who could qualify for PSLF, which gives student loan forgiveness to people in government and nonprofit jobs after 10 years of payments. It...

The House of Representatives has introduced the Federal Capital Territory Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Bill, 2026, seeking to regulate rent payments, curb arbitrary increases and strengthen legal protections for tenants in Abuja. The proposed legislation comes amid growing concerns over the cost of accommodation in the Federal Capital Territory, where many tenants are required […]

A federal judge in California blocked most Department of Homeland Security (DHS) field operations focused on voter fraud in a Wednesday court ruling. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, appointed under former President Biden, barred DHS from conducting “elections-related field operations and field interviews” in nine states, including California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania,...

State AG Monitor: 2026 AG elections outlook, eight AGs sue OpenAI, contempt actions over court orders, and Vermont’s UniFirst settlement.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on a petition filed by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora challenging a Delhi Police notice requiring her to furnish a bond for maintaining peace. Justice Subramonium Prasad will pronounce the order on October 23 at 6 PM. The Court heard arguments for nearly […]

Effingham County bans possession, sale of kratom products with new ordinance The Effingham County Board approved a new ordinance on Monday that bans the sale of kratom products across the county. Source: WCIA

Illinois Supreme Court amends rule to increase domestic violence training for Guardians ad Litem Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. and the Illinois Supreme Court announced amendments to Rule 906 which will strengthen training requirements on domestic violence issues for Guardians ad Litem appointed in domestic relations and child custody cases. Source: The Bar News

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has held that the travel time excluded under Article 22(2) of the Constitution, when counting the 24 hours within which an arrested person must be produced before a Magistrate, applies to every arrested person, irrespective of health. The Court rejected the argument that the exclusion covers only physically incapacitated accused. […]

On October 21, 2026, Meta was ordered to pay New Mexico $25 billion after a jury found it violated state consumer protection laws through misleading statements about data privacy, misinformation, hate speech, community standards, and its oversight of app developers following the Cambridge Analytica matter. Continue Reading ›

Plus, the justices may soon be faced with a case on the future of the Colorado River.

With Chevron gone, there’s a deepening fracture in the standards of judicial review over executive branch actions. On one hand, courts police major agency policies with aggressive skepticism through the major questions doctrine (MQD). On the other hand, when executive actions evade the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and face non-statutory ultra vires review, some jurists […]

"Even a very professional, high-end product can still produce inconsistent results. You have to be aware of that, as a judge, sycophancy is a real side of most AIs. They're looking at language to see what it believes you want, and it tries to prove that to you," a recently retired Illinois judge told Law.com.

This Illinois law was supposed to help families. It’s failing them instead. To help prevent more pregnant women from dying, the Pritzker administration promised that private insurers would cover the cost of doulas to support families. But in many cases, they’re turned away or forced to pay thousands out of pocket. Source: Chicago Sun-Times

“Bonus 258: Book Deals and 28 U.S.C. § 2109; The underlying dispute in BMG Rights Management v. Vetter was about a 1962 song; The real lessons are about the Court’s quorum rules — and the mischief caused by the justices’ (many) book deals.” Steve Vladeck has this post at his “One First” Substack site.

AISA president Neha Bora on Thursday defended the call for regime change as a legitimate expression of democratic dissent before the Delhi High Court, which was hearing her challenge to preventive proceedings initiated by the Delhi Police following protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Appearing for Bora, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted that advocating […]

It was held that the impugned orders were unsustainable due to lack of specific verification regarding composite contracts, valuation rules, limitation ingredients, and foundational requirements for reverse charge.

The Finance Ministry has explained major GST refund reforms including faster acknowledgement, automated 90% provisional refunds, interest on delayed payments, the Rs. 1,000 minimum refund limit and new ITC refund benefits.

Explanation from Chief Commissioner of State Tax sought regarding generation of 3 GST personal hearing notices with different hearing schedules within 2 minutes and directed appellate authority to issue fresh order.

The Allahabad High Court at Lucknow has disposed of a writ petition seeking continuous videography of poll proceedings in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council election from the Lucknow Division Graduates’ Constituency, after the Election Commission of India assured the Court that videography would be conducted as per its Handbook for Returning Officers. A Division Bench […]

Thomas R. Phillips was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas 1988-2004, who was appointed by Republican Governor Bill Clements. It’s fair to say he’s part of what was the traditional Republican Party establishment in Texas, which makes his… Continue reading

From Knife Rights, Inc. v. Blanche, decided yesterday by Fifth Circuit Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, joined by Judges Don Willett

The Court held CIC erred in directing disclosure of SFR-II records, as redaction could not remove the security risks.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is to focus on proactive supervision of higher-risk law firms as it considers changes to its compliance officer rules.

The NY Times reports that a federal judge in California on Wednesday blocked the Department of Homeland Security from conducting field operations to uncover voter fraud in nine states as part of a broader push to identify noncitizen voters. The… Continue reading

The Karnataka High Court has held that the Karnataka Rules on Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings, 2021 do not give a litigant any right to obtain copies of recordings of court proceedings unless the Court specifically orders it. Justice C.M. Poonacha dismissed a writ petition challenging the registry’s refusal to provide audio-visual recordings […]

The Minnesota Court of Appeals just upheld the order.

There is one sentence in Fuld v. PLO (2025) that has always bothered me: that “The Constitution confers upon the Federal Government—and it alone—both nationwide and extraterritorial authority.” This statement is demonstrably wrong, so much so that I was easily convinced by colleagues that it did not need direct refutation. And yet that sentence has

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses television stations. Does that make it Disney’s human resources department? The agency seems to think so, invoking a “public interest” mandate to investigate the company’s diversity policies—a mandate whose meaning seems to change with whoever holds power. Under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the FCC has initiated ... The FCC’s Public Interest in Your Personnel Files

Delhi High Court dismissed a petition challenging an order on charge in a case involving offences under the POCSO Act, holding that the word “persons” in the gang rape provision under Section 376-D IPC/Section 70 BNS is gender neutral, so as a woman who forms part of a group or acts in furtherance of a common intention to have rape committed on the victim can be charged with the offence, though a woman alone cannot be charged.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged state governments to stop relying on the Federal Government to resolve their electricity challenges, calling on them to establish functional power markets and attract private investment to improve supply. Shettima said Nigeria’s ambition to build a competitive industrial economy would remain constrained unless electricity reforms delivered reliable power to businesses, […]

The Union Territories Court Fees (Adjudication of Penalties and Appeal) Rules, 2026 establish a formal procedure for investigating and penalising certain violations of court-fee stamp rules in Union Territories, and for appealing against the penalties imposed.

On September 30, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued two proposing releases containing amendments that would materially affect how business development companies that have elected to be regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act,” and “BDCs,” respectively), interval funds and other registered funds are structured, as well as […]

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has intensified enforcement of the Cabotage regime, detaining four vessels over alleged violations of Nigeria’s coastal shipping regulations as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with local content requirements in the maritime sector. The vessels identified during the enforcement operation were MT HOLMES, MT FUJAIRAH ENERGY, JS GRATITUDE […]

NY Times reports on the fallout from a decision by the North Carolina State Board of Elections to institute new rules mandating the rejection of mail-in ballots received with unsealed inner envelopes. A challenge brought by the North Carolina Alliance… Continue reading

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Jos, has declared the dismissal of Mr. Igwe by Chan Medi Pharm wrongful, null and void, holding that the company issued the dismissal letter after his employment had already lawfully ended. The Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Galadima, held that Igwe’s resignation took effect upon […]

In Mennonite Church USA v. U.S Department of Homeland Security, (DC Cir., Oct. 20, 2026), the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision held that a group of Christian and Jewish organizations have standing to challenge the rescission of the prior administration's "sensitive locations Policy" which restricted immigration enforcement activities in sensitive locations such as places of

10/22/1915: Hadacheck v. Sebastian argued.

Kerala High Court directed UIDAI to compare fingerprints recovered from a double-murder crime scene with Aadhaar database records holding that the investigating agency was not seeking disclosure of core biometric information but only identification of persons whose fingerprints matched the crime-scene prints. Such a request was permissible under Section 33, Aadhaar Act when authorised by a High Court and did not offend the right to privacy.

In A.P. v. Department of Children and Families, (MA App. Ct., Oct. 21, 2016), a Massachusetts state appellate court vacated and remanded a decision of a Department of Children and Families Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer had upheld a staff finding that A.P., a foster mother, had neglected needs of Beth, her foster child. The court said in part:The hearing officer found that Beth "

The proposed GST exemption will apply to coffee curing services provided to cultivators but will not cover roasting or other processing activities.

Eric S. Fish, Deportation in the Deep State, __ Stan. L. Rev. __ (forthcoming), available at SSRN (Apr. 11, 2026). Christopher Walker At the end of the Term in Trump v. Slaughter, the Supreme Court overruled Humphrey’s Executor—the bedrock precedent that upheld statutory limitations on the President’s removal power over leaders of so-called independent agencies. The formal logic of this unitary executive theory, some have argued, could apply to any other government official who exercises even a

The Allahabad High Court has set aside the conviction of three men in a rape case dating back to 1983, finding that material contradictions in the prosecution evidence, inconsistencies in the testimonies of the two complainants and an unexplained six-day delay in registering the FIR raised serious doubts about the prosecution’s case. Justice Abdul Shahid, […]

**Samik Basu Introduction In 2017, the Bombay HC admitted a writ petition filed by the famed Marathi actor and director, Amol Palekar challenging the regime of prior-censorship of theatrical performances and plays in Maharashtra under the Bombay Police Act, 1951 and the rules thereunder. The challenge contends that the mandatory pre-censorship of theatrical scripts is […]

Property purchased equally hasn't been valued properly, leading to an addition of the entire differential amount to the taxable income in co-owner’s hands

ITAT accepted most of the cash deposit after considering wedding-gift details, past savings and family circumstances and sustained Rs 25,000 for want of complete supporting confirmation.

It was held that the impugned orders were unsustainable due to lack of specific verification regarding composite contracts, valuation rules, limitation ingredients, and foundational requirements for reverse charge.

ITAT upheld deletion of additions after finding that low returned income alone did not disprove the lenders’ creditworthiness and Customs records supported the actual import figures.

Third-party WhatsApp chats and statements could not sustain a Section 69C addition when the Revenue failed to establish who received the alleged cash or connect that person with the company.

The Delhi High Court has held that a woman living in a jointly owned family house as the wife of a co-owner cannot be treated as a trespasser or evicted by her brother-in-law. The brother-in-law had failed to prove that he was the exclusive owner of the property. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna dismissed a Regular […]

The Bombay High Court on Thursday allowed a petitioner to withdraw his challenge to the constitutional validity of Maharashtra’s anti-conversion legislation after the Court questioned the absence of specific facts demonstrating how the law had adversely affected him. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna was hearing a writ […]

The petitioner is a former Minister of the Government of West Bengal and former Vice-Chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality. The proceedings arose out of an alleged municipal recruitment scam in West Bengal.

JUVE Patent: Patent is about technology. As a judge you needed to be neutral. But as a lawyer, you are now free to speak. Do you have a favourite technology? Alan Albright: Obviously, I did a lot of semiconductor cases before I went on the bench and I also enjoy medical technology as well. Leaving […]

The Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, has remanded a 19-year-old woman, Marian Elia, and her 21-year-old boyfriend, Izuchukwu Uzoma, over allegations that they conspired to steal ₦35.92 million belonging to Mrs Esther Ogbeifun. Justice C. A. Obiozor ordered their remand at the Benin Correctional Centre after they pleaded not guilty to seven […]

The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has held that retention of stridhan may no longer remain a “continuing offence” once marital ties have been severed through a decree of divorce, and any criminal complaint for its recovery must be instituted within the three-year limitation period prescribed under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, […]

A Sharia Court sitting in Kawo, Kaduna State, has set aside the conviction and four-year prison sentence imposed on a 23-year-old journalist, Farida Isiak, following her prosecution over a Facebook post criticising the police for detaining her parents in connection with a dispute involving ₦100 change from a charcoal sale. The court reversed its earlier […]

ITAT directed the Assessing Officer to verify returns and bank records linked to both PANs to determine whether the disputed income had already been disclosed and assessed.

England and Wales judges to be able to keep inmates in their cells for longer or stop visits if they refuse to face victims’ families in court Offenders who refuse to face their victims’ families in court for sentencing could be stripped of privileges or kept in cells for weeks under government changes granting wider powers to judges in England and Wales. The imposition of new prison sanctions, coming into effect next year, builds on existing laws that order offenders to attend sentencing or fac

Ardent duty of State to see there is no obstruction to movement, Court said.

Section 275(1)(a) requires penalty proceedings connected with an assessment to remain in abeyance while the underlying assessment is pending in appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

The Ministry of Finance has clarified that GST officers cannot issue a deficiency memo after acknowledging a refund application even if deficiencies are found at a later stage.

Gravity of the allegations, however serious, cannot by itself justify indefinite pre-trial detention, the Court added.

A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Sarang V. Kotwal and Justice Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale has ruled that detaining an accused without an order taking cognizance and without a valid remand warrant issued by a competent court is illegal. Allowing a criminal writ petition, the High Court directed the release on bail […]

The Court also ordered perjury proceedings two company executives.

The Upper Tribunal has issued new guidance on suspected fraudulent applications in Hoxha & Others (Tanveer Ahmed; fraudulent applications; procedure) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2026] UKUT 00378. Specifically, the decision considers the steps judges should take to preserve the integrity of the immigration appeal process at a time when it is […]

The Bombay High Court has quashed the FIR registered under Section 304A read with Section 34 of the IPC against the trustees, in-charge principal, teachers and staff of a Pune college over the drowning of 14 students at Murud beach, Raigad, in February 2016. The Court held that where the students were adults and the […]

Since the Home Office launched a consultation on ‘The Future of the Undercover Policing Inquiry’ this summer (see my story in Private Eye 1681, p. 38), it has been uncertain whether the statutory public inquiry, currently chaired by Sir John Mitting, will be allowed to conclude its work. Last month, the Inquiry finished its final […]

A new form is notified by the direct tax board for claiming the exemptions on interest and capital gain earned from the government securities during the relevant tax year, where the taxpayers has to disclose personal details and the income claimed on securities.

Availability of a substantial tax demand does not by itself justify invoking writ jurisdiction when an effective statutory appeal is available under Section 246A of the Income Tax Act.

At the stage of taking cognizance, the court only has to determine whether the complaint and supporting material disclose a prima facie case and cannot conduct a mini-trial by evaluating the accused persons’ defence documents.

Amendment that retrospectively withdrew SGST reimbursement incentive struck down as it violated doctrines of promissory estoppel and legitimate expectation

GST notices and orders under Chapter XVIII remain legally valid without a visible digital signature if they are electronically authenticated by the proper officer and uploaded on the common portal.

Commercial rights cannot take precedence over the religious and spiritual character of a pilgrimage destination, the Gujarat government informed the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday while defending a prohibition on storing and selling non-vegetarian food near the Somnath Temple. Appearing before a bench headed by Justice Nisha M Thakor, the state argued that the 500-metre […]

The Central Government has notified the Merchant Shipping (Tribunal Members' Qualification and Submission of Award) Rules, 2026, prescribing the qualifications for appointment of Tribunal members and establishing timelines for disposal of references and submission of awards.

If the roles of investigator, prosecutor, and adjudicator are blended in a single agency, can the process be considered fair, independent, and reasonable?

The Bombay High Court has ordered the seizure and confiscation of a mobile phone used to record its proceedings, and directed a junior advocate to deposit ₹25,000 as costs over the recording, which was made by an advocate’s clerk on the junior lawyer’s instructions. The Court held that the recording was made without approval required […]

The Court upheld Clause 10, T.N. Special Absorption Rules, 1987, which expressly placed the 1983-batch direct recruits above special appointees irrespective of the direct recruits’ dates of appointment.

Daniel R. Golub, Chelsea Maclean, Kevin J. Ashe, Will Sterling, Noah DeWitt

Judges across the country are cautiously exploring the benefits of AI, including one who uses a “brainstorm buddy” to develop questions for oral argument, a National Center for State Courts report shows. The March report is based on surveys of state and federal judges in 10 states and shows that early adopters were using the...

The Delhi High Court has held that only the Supreme Court can direct that its decisions will not be cited as precedent. Lower courts cannot place that restriction on their own rulings, the Court said, because it could lead to similarly placed litigants being treated differently. A Division Bench of Justice C. Hari Shankar and […]

It was held that initiation of proceedings under Section 130 for excess stock found during survey is legally unsustainable, and the FAA rightly set aside the penalties and fines.

The power to order a provisional attachment of the property including a bank account is draconian in nature and the conditions which are prescribed by the statute for a valid exercise of the power must be strictly fulfilled.

By Ismail Jibril Esq DL, LLB, BL, LLM, (PhD- in-view) (Dispute Resolution Specialist) Abstract On 26 June 2026 the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court issued the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions, 2026, effective from 29 June 2026, repealing the 2022 Directions. This article examines the provisions of the new practice direction that […]

A judge may develop free family law software for litigants and attorneys, but may not personally administer the program or access databases containing confidential party information, according to an amended opinion issued October 21 by the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee. The amendment to Opinion 2026-06 adds restrictions to an August 27 opinion that found a...

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has cautioned defence lawyers against delaying the trial of four men accused of kidnapping and killing an officer of the State Security Service. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the warning on Wednesday after Kelvin Ekwe and Geoffrey Uwadiegwu, counsel for the defendants, sought an adjournment. The defendants — Michael […]

The Sixth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has sent the following six names to the governor for his consideration in filling the Pinellas County Court vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Kathleen T. Hessinger. Kenneth J. Afienko David Moran Christina Pacheco Samantha Sealey Mallory Thomas Emily VanOosting A list of the Sixth Circuit Judicial...

The Kano State House of Assembly has suspended Yusuf Bello Aliyu, the lawmaker representing Nassarawa Local Government Area, for three months over alleged insulting remarks directed at Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The suspension was announced during the Assembly’s plenary on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with Aliyu directed to stay away from all legislative activities throughout […]

The court said that the accused's "filmy style" attempt to pass off murder as snakebite made the crime fall in the "rarest of rare" category.

Scholar argues that courts should scrutinize delegations to the President more closely than those to agencies. The post The Nondelegation Doctrine as a Check on Presidential Power first appeared on The Regulatory Review .

By Muiz Banire SAN As another election season approaches, it is imperative that the electorate undertakes a sober reflection on its role in shaping the quality of leadership and the future of our democracy. While political office holders have a constitutional, moral and ethical obligation to serve the public interest, citizens also have a responsibility […]

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have undertaken before a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) in Delhi that they will not call for protests at Jantar Mantar for as long as the site remains denotified as a designated protest venue. The two activists also assured the court that they would maintain peace, […]

by Samanvi Narang* and Maitry Pandit**

Source

Executive Summary: On October 19, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2026-1, formally withdrawing three opinion letters that served as the foundation for the so-called “80/20 Rule” governing tipped employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).... By: FordHarrison

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved a change to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Rule 2210 that gives broker-dealers greater flexibility to present projected performance and targeted returns to eligible audiences. Our Investment Funds Group examines the exception’s requirements, safeguards, and limits.... By: Alston & Bird

Brazil's newly enacted Constitutional Amendment No. 141 significantly changes the country's working-time rules. The amendment gradually reduces the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours, introduces a second paid weekly rest day, and creates a new exemption from working-time and timekeeping requirements for certain employees with a university degree who meet a compensation threshold.... By: Littler

On October 16, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requested that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review a final rule rescinding the interpretive portions of the EEOC's version of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (UGESP), 29 C.F.R. Part 1607. The EEOC’s regulatory agenda projected final action on the rule to occur in November 2026, with an effective date in January 2027.

Democratic leaders and election groups filed a lawsuit against President Trump and the Justice Department (DOJ) on Tuesday, seeking to block federal officials from pressuring states to remove voters from their rolls ahead of the November midterm elections. The 44-page complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses the DOJ...

In-house lawyer fees at New York partner rates? A California appeals court lets a former in-house counsel put a $4.2 million lodestar claim to a jury. [...]

Children’s Waiting Room Reopens at Hayward Hall of JusticeKaren.Datangel Wed, 10/21/2026 - 14:50 Fromthecourts

The lead lawyer for Westlake Chemical said defeating the motion for a permanent injunction seeking to shut down a section of ethylene pipeline can be viewed as a win for Texas’ midstream energy industry. Express H20 Pipeline and ROW had argued a 3.5-mile portion of the Westlake pipeline violated its exclusive, blanket easement.

The Department of Justice ended its review of a $450mn asphalt merger despite participating in an investigation that found the deal would harm competition in road maintenance services, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.

From Berenson v. Gottlieb, decided yesterday by Judges Pierre Leval, Richard Wesley, and Joseph Bianco: Plaintiff-Appellant Alex Berenson … is

Time: Liberal Justice Elena Kagan has accused the Supreme Court ’s conservative majority of undermining democracy and creating a more polarized electorate through a series of key rulings that have affected the nature of elections ahead of the midterms . … Continue reading

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan told an audience that the conservative majority is blinding itself to the consequences of its decisions on voting rights, gerrymandering and campaign finance.

The Supreme Court sent these files to the National Archives earlier this month, with the Archives making them public today. We believe we’re missing one file and will update that when we locate it. Much better to have these in October than last term’s audio, which we weren’t able to locate until February. Even so, […]

Lawyers who represented former Olympian David Hearn in a now-defunct criminal case alleging he vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool are urging the Justice Department’s internal watchdog to reconsider a probe into how the indictment and prosecution were handled. A letter Hearn's legal team sent to Inspector General Don Berthiaume on Wednesday said the federal...

This alert updates and expands upon our previous analysis of Colorado's proposed ADMT rules to reflect the Colorado Department of Law's October 6, 2026 Interim Draft Rules and developments leading up to the October 26, 2026, rulemaking hearing.... By: Moore & Van Allen PLLC

On October 13, 2026, the Army issued Amendment 0011 to the Marketplace for the Acquisition of Professional Services (MAPS) solicitation, W15P7T-26-R-A006, extending the proposal due date to 11:59:59 a.m. local time on November 12, 2026.... By: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

In July, we wrote the Custody Rule (or, perhaps, the Safeguarding Rule) is back and promised to see you in October. On October 1, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) proposed new rules and amendments to the custody rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“40 Act”) (“Proposed Rule”).... By: Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.

On October 15, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued several new and revised Corporation Finance Interpretations (CFIs) addressing various matters related to equity compensation registration and reporting.... By: Cooley LLP

Gibson Dunn secured vacatur of class certification through a novel meme-stock argument in the Fifth Circuit.

On October 7, 2026, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit formally dismissed the government’s appeal in Alta Wind I Owner Lessor C v. United States (Alta Wind), ending a lengthy dispute concerning the valuation of renewable energy projects for federal tax incentive purposes.... By: McDermott Will & Schulte

On October 9, 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued two releases related to the scope and definition of swaps.... By: Patomak Global Partners

California Bars Public Works Contractors from Defending Themselves with Records Withheld from the Labor Commissioner On August 27, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1316 (SB 1316), adding section 1742.05 to the California Labor Code. Effective January 1, 2027, the new section creates a potentially case-dispositive consequence for public works contractors and subcontractors that do not timely produce requested payroll, time, and employment records: They may be unable to in

At a press conference on Wednesday, New Mexico Attorney General Rau l Torrez said the award was the “one of the single largest, if not the largest single state verdict against a company in U.S. history and a “clear warning against Big Tech, including other social media and artificial intelligence companies.

On 12 October 2026, the EU imposed further sanctions on Russia, adding to the EU’s asset-freeze list 826 entities and 743 individuals — all part of Russia’s military-industrial complex — and 77 candidates involved in the illegal September 2026 elections to the Russian State Duma.... By: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

On September 30, 2026, the SEC proposed amendments to Advisers Act Rule 205-3 that would permit advisers to mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, and BDCs to charge a broader range of performance fees on both realized and unrealized gains—subject to a 20% cap, heightened board governance and findings, and new disclosure.... By: Vedder

On September 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1776, known as the COMPETE Act (the “Act”), into law. The Act adds three new sections to the Business and Professions Code (Sections 16730, 16731, and 16732) and, for the first time, extends the Cartwright Act, California’s principal antitrust statute, to monopolization and monopsonization by a single firm.... By: Vinson & Elkins LLP

On September 29, 2026, the Third Circuit issued what appears to be the first federal appellate decision on whether training AI on copyrighted material is fair use.... By: Baker Botts L.L.P.

NJDEP civil administrative penalties are often negotiable, but not in the sense that most businesses expect. Most NJDEP regulatory programs have their own rules governing civil administrative penalties.... By: Offit Kurman

On October 12, 2026, the California Office of Administrative Law (“OAL”) approved the California Air Resources Board’s (“CARB”) California Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Initial Regulation (the “Initial Regulation”).... By: Vinson & Elkins LLP

On September 30, 2026, the SEC proposed significant rulemaking that would modernize the regulatory framework governing interval funds and expand the ability of closed-end funds to issue multiple share classes.... By: Vedder

NPR: The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees say they are operating under the presumption that President Trump and his allies will allege fraud related to this year’s midterms in order to justify election interference. “We start… Continue reading

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) recently announced a new policy under which a company that voluntarily self-discloses potential criminal conduct affecting one or more federal healthcare programs to the Fraud Division's Health Care Fraud Section will receive the benefits of both DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy and HHS-OIG's Health Care Fraud... By: Ho

On Friday October 16, 2026, Judge Michael Simon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon entered a preliminary injunction in favor of three naturopathic medicine associations that represent naturopathic medical colleges, naturopathic doctors, and naturopathic medical students in a lawsuit arising out of the U.S. Department of Education’s “RISE” rule.... By: Thompson Coburn LLP

Antitrust claims against Keurig have been brewing since 2014, but the US District Court for the Southern District of New York finally found grounds for a trial. Judge Vernon Broderick unsealed his denial of Keurig's motion for summary judgment, allowing claims that it engaged in exclusive dealing, tying, and design restrictions aimed at thwarting competition for single-serve coffee. Also in Tiplin...

As noted in this Cooley “Securities Litigation + Enforcement” blog penned by Sean Brownridge, Patrick Gibbs and Polina Demina, as most prepare for their director nomination window to open between December and February, the Delaware courts have delivered a timely reminder:... By: Cooley LLP

Justice System Partnership Increases Legal Aid for Low-Income Litigantselaine.chan Wed, 10/21/2026 - 12:06 NewsLink This year, the Judicial Council celebrates the California Access to Justice Commission (CalATJ)’s 30th anniversary and its shared commitment to improving access to legal services for low-income Californians.

From juvenile court to water law, Boulware Eurie expands her reachelaine.chan Wed, 10/21/2026 - 12:07 NewsLink (Subscription required) Justice Stacy Boulware Eurie has expanded into water and environmental law while maintaining her commitment to child welfare and judicial education. She seeks a 12-year term on Nov. 3.

Supreme Court sided with Justice Raphael in 3 caseselaine.chan Wed, 10/21/2026 - 12:08 NewsLink (Subscription required) 4th District Justice Michael J. Raphael, seeking a 12-year term Nov. 3, wrote a dissent, concurrence and majority opinion whose positions were subsequently upheld by the California Supreme Court.

Danner's opinions shape high court decisions as she trains new justiceselaine.chan Wed, 10/21/2026 - 12:09 NewsLink (Subscription required) Justice Allison Danner, who trains new appellate justices, and whose rulings the state Supreme Court has drawn on or upheld in cases on police searches, murder resentencing and pension bonds, seeks retention Nov. 3.

U.S. v. Santiago, decided Monday by Judge Chad Meredith (E.D. Ky.), involves this Instagram post: Santiago is being prosecuted for

Reece Blackett Sections 7 and 24 of the Constitution require that parliamentarians be ‘directly chosen by the people’. This constitutional mandate of direct choice by the people limits Parliament’s otherwise broad power to regulate federal elections, operating through a two-stage test

recent Holland & Knight alert reported on the seven new data center laws that California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on September 21, 2026. These laws will change how new data centers are reviewed, powered and supplied with water and at what stage of the approval process information must be made available. Rather than imposing a ban or moratorium on data centers, these laws largely codified and built on the "buy, bring or build" commitments around which the data center industry is coalescing.... By

The Trump Administration has shifted competition policy “too far” in support of patent holders, a New York state antitrust enforcer has said, pointing to recent statements of interest filed by the Department of Justice.

The New Jersey Tax Court ruled on October 1, 2026, against the American Catalog Mailers Association (ACMA) in its declaratory judgment challenge to the Division of Taxation's regulations on internet business activities under Public Law (P.L.) 86-272. The court granted the director's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint.... By: Holland & Knight LLP

A federal court rejected a challenge to Executive Order (EO) 14398, “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors.” The court concluded the EO’s prohibition targets only unlawful intentional discrimination and applies to work performed under a specific contract containing the required clause.... By: Jackson Lewis P.C.

On 24 September 2026, the US Department of Labor’s (Department) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new fact sheet, “Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications” (Fact Sheet),addressing how employers and workers can prepare for and respond to opioid overdoses in the workplace. Although the Fact Sheet is informational and does not impose new compliance requirements, it provides employers with a timely framework for evaluating workplace overdose preparedness.... By:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on September 30, 2026, signed Assembly Bill 2116 (the Act), which amends the California Financing Law (CFL). The most significant feature of the Act is its inclusion of a licensing requirement, operative on July 1, 2028,2 for parties designated as commercial financing providers and commercial financing brokers (respectively, CFPs and CFBs, and collectively, Covered Persons) who provide or help arrange various types of commercial financing to "small business"... By: H

DHS has issued an alert indicating that Ukraine’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation will be continued. However, no specific end date or new designation period has been announced. The agency has stated that a formal announcement will be made “at the appropriate time.” Previously, Ukrainian TPS was extended to Oct. 19, 2026.... By: Jackson Lewis P.C.

On October 9, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) published a proposed rule adding new paragraph (2)(i)(G) to the definition of “swap” in 17 CFR § 1.3 to expressly include “event contracts, including those based on sports, politics, cultural, and weather-related events.” The CFTC notes that its authority under Dodd-Frank allows it to “further define” the term “swap” and argues that event contracts already qualify as swaps under several prongs of the statutory definition.... By: Lowen

The U.S. Supreme Court has brought an end to the long-running termination challenge of Gwynne Wilcox, former Member of the National Labor Relations Board. Ms. Wilcox, a Democrat and Biden appointee, sued after she was terminated by President Trump shortly after he took office in January 2025.... By: Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to release draft risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) with the most recent ones released on August 27, 2026 (trans-1,2-dichloroethylene) and September 2, 2026 (1,2-dichloropropane). 91 Fed. Reg. 55337 and 91 Fed. Reg. 56882. EPA states that the purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA is…... By: Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

On October 15, 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)’s Neo Group judgment (C-203/25) broadened the circumstances in which anti-abuse rules may apply to the zero-percent dividend withholding tax exemption under the EU Parent-Subsidiary Directive (PSD).... By: DLA Piper

Courts have been active over the past month deciding insurance issues. The Arizona Supreme Court for the first time defines “fortuity,” while the Colorado Supreme Court instructs on insolvency “drop down.” The Eighth Circuit considers a time element pollution exclusions and whether prejudice plays any role. An Oregon federal court finds an exclusion for “infectious and/or contagious diseases” ambiguous in the context of a listeria claim. Regardless of whether the court got it right,... By: Rivki

At my “Firing Line” debate with Nolan McCarty at Yale, I made the case for the Alaska model of primaries, which does away with the traditional party primary. This essay from the Dispatch reports on the ballot fight this fall… Continue reading

A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit clarified the reach of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (“EFAA”), with significant implications for employers in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont seeking to enforce arbitration agreements. On September 30, 2026, in Diaz-Roa v. Hermes Law,...... Continue Reading

On September 30, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-0 to adopt a Report and Order (FCC Order 26-67) (Order) that substantially revises how consumers revoke consent to autodialed and prerecorded calls and texts (i.e., robocalls) under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA).... By: DLA Piper

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (the “FEHA”) proscribes various forms of employment discrimination, including discrimination based on religious beliefs.... By: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

New national rules, effective 1 July 2026, give workers who continue working after China’s mandatory retirement age a set of statutory protections for the first time. For employers that rehire retiring staff or rely on older workers in frontline roles, the most significant change is that these workers are now entitled to overtime pay on the same basis as ordinary employees.... By: DLA Piper

On 14 October 2026, the German Parliament adopted the Implementation Act for the EU Cyber Resilience Act (“CRA”), determining how the EU’s cybersecurity rules for products with digital elements will be supervised and enforced in Germany.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently announced that the California Office of Administrative Law approved its initial regulation implementing aspects of the state's corporate climate disclosure laws, effective October 12, 2026. Originally adopted by CARB in February, the regulation establishes an initial fee framework and...... By: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Supreme Court denies VirtaMove without holding it for Tesla, Kahoot!, Intel, or FedEx. Plus new petitions on post-expiration royalties and § 101. Continue reading this post on Patently-O.

In re Joseph Beard, No. 15-26-00136-CV – Decided October 15, 2026 In a unanimous opinion, the Fifteenth Court of Appeals

A federal court in Florida recently ruled that since a company’s remote employees did not work at a single site of employment, they were not entitled to a written notice of termination under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act). As the first court in the Eleventh Circuit to address this issue, the decision offers important guidance on employers’ WARN Act notice obligations to remote employees.... By: Phelps Dunbar

A new federal bill targeting the sale of smart meter data highlights growing US regulatory scrutiny of what everyday technologies can reveal about consumers. Regulators are focused on the potential for connected vehicles, wearables, thermostats, smart TVs, and other Internet of Things products to collect data passively, often without consumers’ awareness.... By: Morgan Lewis

The Court seems concerned enough about transitioning children but not adult (prisoners).

On Oct. 14, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule (IFR), effective immediately, cutting the time a refugee has to respond to a Notice of Intent to Terminate (NOIT) refugee status from 30 days to 10 days. 91 Fed. Reg. 65077. Comments are due Nov. 13, 2026 (Docket No. USCIS-2026-0397).... By: Jackson Lewis P.C.

For decades, a New York employee’s personnel file belonged, practically speaking, to the employer. The employee might glimpse it during an exit interview or a lawsuit. Otherwise, it stayed locked away.... By: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

On October 15, 2026, FERC initiated a rulemaking to enable blanket authorizations for certain activities at liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants.... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

The US tariff litigation landslide continues to rumble downhill. On February 20, 2026, the US Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), holding that IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs. The administration responded by imposing a 10 percent global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Originally published in The Procurement Lawyer, Volume 62, Number 1, Fall 2026. © 2026 by the... By

On September 28, 2026, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced the final version of a new class deviation, titled “Basic Safeguarding of Data within Large Language Model Artificial Intelligence Systems,” that applies compliance requirements to contracts involving the use of large language models (LLMs). The new clause went into effect on October 19, 2026, and... Continue Reading

For years, the rules governing college sports have been shaped by antitrust litigation, state name, image, and likeness (“NIL”) laws, National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) rulemaking, and private settlements rather than a single national framework.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

A judge in New Mexico ordered the technology giant Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found the company liable for misleading users about its privacy and content policies. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez (D) announced the judge's order Wednesday, calling it "one of the single largest — if not the largest —...

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) has issued Ministerial Resolution No. 122 of 2026 Regarding the Update of Labour Accommodation Requirements (the Resolution), introducing updated requirements for labor accommodation in the UAE.... By: Morgan Lewis - Shifting Sands Of Labor Law

On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) published a series of notices seeking public comment on significantly expanding the definition of “accredited investor” under Rule 501(a) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 by designating several new credential or professional certifications that would qualify natural persons for accredited investor status.... By: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

The Alabama Supreme Court issued its weekly release list on Friday, October 16, which included the following orders and opinions of interest to the business community...... By: Maynard Nexsen

The Central Bank of Nigeria, through its legal team led by Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, argued a preliminary objection to an application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project before the Federal High Court in Abuja over approximately ₦2.995 trillion identified in connection with the […]

Brazil's New Working-Time Framework: Reduced Hours, Two Weekly Rest Days, and a New Exemption for Certain Employees Brazil's newly enacted Constitutional Amendment No. 141 significantly changes the country's working-time rules. The amendment gradually reduces the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours, introduces a second paid weekly rest day, and creates a new exemption from working-time and timekeeping requirements for certain employees with a university degree who meet a compensation threshold.

Contra Costa County Superior Court to Implement New Weekly Jury Summons Model Beginning in 2027Karen.Datangel Mon, 10/19/2026 - 10:28 Fromthecourts

Superior Court of Los Angeles County to Expand Courthouse Renumbering Initiative to Four Additional Locations on Nov. 2, 2026Karen.Datangel Tue, 10/20/2026 - 10:29 Fromthecourts

The Federal Reserve and the FDIC have extended until Nov. 4 the deadline for comments on a proposal governing extension of credit by banks to their executive officers, directors, principal shareholders, and their related interests. “Since the publication of the proposal, commenters have requested that the Board extend the comment period.... Continue Reading

The Wyoming State Bar today released the results of this year’s Judicial Performance Assessment.

On 18 September 2026, the European Banking Authority (EBA) published its final Guidelines on the sound management of third-party risk regarding non-ICT services (the New Guidelines).... By: DLA Piper

A Hong Kong court has dismissed Russia’s bid to disqualify German arbitrator Stephan Schill from hearing an investment treaty claim brought by Uniper at the HKIAC, finding neither his academic writings nor his nationality gave rise to justifiable doubts about his independence or impartiality.

David Freeman Engstrom (Stanford Law School), David Marcus (UCLA School of Law), and Elliot Setzer (Yale University) have posted Managerial Courts (Yale Law Journal) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: In recent decades, American courts have undergone a quiet but far-reaching revolution in their function and role. Particularly in state courts facing a crush of cases […]

NYT : A coalition of Democratic lawmakers and campaign committees filed a lawsuit on Wednesday asking a federal judge to impose a sweeping halt to efforts by the Trump administration to control various aspects of election administration ahead of next… Continue reading

The government has published a consultation paper on employment status reform and protections for the self-employed. The consultation closes on 8 January 2027.... By: DLA Piper

Decision stands in contrast to recent trans rights actions from court that often sides with Trump administration The US supreme court went against Donald Trump ’s administration on Wednesday, refusing to allow the immediate enforcement of sweeping restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender individuals held in prisons and federal facilities. The decision marks an unusual victory for transgender rights before the nation’s highest court, which has largely sided with the administration an

On October 1, 2026, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) approved plans for ten drug manufacturers, covering 21 drugs, to join a revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program (the Pilot) starting January 1, 2027.... By: Benesch

California’s Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) has finalized regulations implementing Assembly Bill 1415 (AB 1415), providing additional guidance regarding the application of California’s healthcare transaction notice requirements to private equity groups, hedge funds, management services organizations (MSOs), and other entities involved in healthcare transactions. The final regulations become effective November 2, 2026.... By: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Here are curated AG and federal regulatory news stories highlighting key areas in which state and federal regulators’ decisions are having an impact across the US: • FTC and USDA Seek Public Input on Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing and Market Competition • States Ask Supreme Court to Clarify Authority Over Prediction Markets • Connecticut AG Tong Seeks Approval of Settlements with Three Generic Drug Manufacturers in Antitrust Case • AG Mayes Sues TikTok Over Alleged Harm to Minors... By: Co

The 2026 Virginia Energy Plan outlines the Spanberger Administration’s priorities for clean energy development, grid reliability and rising electricity demand from data centers. It proposes expanding solar and energy storage, reforming utility procurement and incentives, and ensuring large electricity users pay for needed infrastructure.... By: Williams Mullen

With just two weeks until the November 3 midterm elections, companies should pay attention not only to who may control Congress in January, but also to the congressional inquiries already underway. Letters and information requests issued today—including those from lawmakers currently in the minority—could become the foundation for more extensive investigations in the next Congress.... By: Morgan Lewis

In a per curiam memorandum opinion issued on July 14, 2026, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston conditionally granted a writ of mandamus directing a Harris County trial court to rule on two long-pending motions in an insurance dispute — a motion to compel appraisal and a motion for abatement — that had languished without action for close to a year.... By: Zelle LLP

New personnel record requirements for employers in New York State – including an employee notification requirement – will take effect on Sunday, November 8. The law applies to all New York State employers, regardless of the number of employees. Out-of-state employers should also ideally comply, with respect to any employees who are in the State of New York.... By: Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

On October 15, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) issued a policy clarifying the process for companies seeking to voluntarily self-disclose potential criminal conduct related to federal health care programs under DOJ’s Department-wide Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP), which was released earlier this year.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended its Emerging Viral Pathogen (EVP) Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticides (Guidance) in response to the Marburg virus. Marburg virus disease is a rare disease that is caused by an infection from the Marburg virus.... By: Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

This edition of The Essentials in US Employment Law coincides with the close of California’s 2026 legislative session and summarizes the most significant employment-related bills enacted this year. We have highlighted key provisions of the new laws taking effect in 2027, including significant developments involving: • Artificial Intelligence and Workplace Technology - • Employment Agreements, Arbitration, and Mediation - • Discrimination and Retaliation - • Leaves of Absence - • Wage and Hour...

The Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) (comprising the European Banking Authority, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority and European Securities and Markets Authority) has published its annual work programme for 2027, setting out priorities for addressing cross-sectoral risks and enhancing supervisory coordination across the EU financial sector.... By: A&O Shearman

Contractors bidding large public projects in Massachusetts may soon have another eligibility requirement to consider. In January 2026, the Massachusetts House passed H.5032, known as the PATHS Act, by a 154-1 vote. The bill is now before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. If enacted, it would impose new apprenticeship requirements on public works projects with an estimated construction cost exceeding $10 million.... By: Bowditch & Dewey

A final court order does not necessarily mean an end to the involvement of state attorneys general (AG) in an enforcement action.... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to let the Trump administration immediately enforce restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for transgender people in federal custody, leaving lower-court relief in place while the litigation proceeds. The unsigned order does not resolve the merits, but it is a significant procedural setback for the government and an important... Continue Reading

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to let the Trump administration immediately enforce restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for transgender people in federal custody, leaving lower-court relief in place while the litigation proceeds. The unsigned order does not resolve the merits, but it is a significant procedural setback for the government and an important...

In the recent case of DZD v DZE [2026] SGHC 199, the General Division of the High Court of Singapore set aside an arbitral award after finding that the parties had not entered into a valid arbitration agreement. The court held that the respondent’s non-participation in the arbitration did not give rise to a deemed arbitration agreement and that its payment of freight to the claimant neither ratified the forged execution of a charterparty document nor established an agreement to arbitrate.... By:

Maine has adopted two complementary health care transaction laws. The first is a “mini-HSR” statute requiring certain health care entities to submit copies of their federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Act filings to the Maine Attorney General. The second creates a 180-day notice-and-clearance process for acquisitions of Maine health care entities by private equity companies, hedge funds, and certain management services organizations.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

San Francisco recently finalized amendments to its Paid Parental Leave Ordinance (PPLO), expanding access to employer-paid parental leave benefits by reducing the length of service eligibility requirement for covered employees from 180 days to 90 days.... By: DLA Piper

The Financial Markets Authority – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko (FMA) has released a consultation on proposed changes to the standard conditions imposed on market services licences under Part 6 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 (FMCA).... By: DLA Piper

State courts are at critical crossroads. On one hand, they are facing heavier workloads and persistent staffing shortages, while managing

The Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba on Wednesday granted bail to four defendants standing trial over the fatal shooting of Oghenemi “Mine” Ogidi in Effurun, Delta State, while the first defendant, ASP Usman Nuhu, popularly known as “Ogbegbe,” remains in custody. The development followed the closure of the defence cases by all five […]

On October 19, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its Temporary Protected Status (TPS) webpages for Ukraine and Sudan, stating that an announcement on the TPS designations for both countries “[would] be made at the appropriate time.”... By: Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,

Ben Berwick and Jessica Marsden have written this SF Chronicle oped: The lawsuit is almost assuredly dead on arrival. So what’s really going on? In all likelihood, the Department of Justice knows its lawsuit against California will fail. This case… Continue reading

On October 12, 2026, the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) California Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Initial Regulation, codified at Title 17, California Code of Regulations, sections 96070-96077 (the Initial Regulation).... By: WilmerHale

In a significant development for the telecom industry, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found that the FCC lacks the necessary legal authority to create USAC, the entity responsible for administering the federal USF. The court therefore vacated the 2025 Q4 USF contribution factor, which the Wireline Competition Bureau set primarily based on data from USAC, and remanded the matter to the FCC for further proceedings.... By: Womble Bond Dickinson

A federal judge in the paraquat multidistrict litigation ordered a second lawyer to explain why his clients aren't participating in a proposed settlement.

An Ebola scare gripped the National Assembly on Wednesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed that several senators declined to shake hands with him amid concerns over the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory. Akpabio made the disclosure during the Senate’s consideration of a motion on measures to prevent the spread of the […]

The third prosecution witness (PW3) in the ongoing trial of former Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku and another defendant before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Taiwo Jones, on Wednesday told the court that he never received any instructions on financial transactions from the former governor. Ishaku, who governed Taraba State […]

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued five notices of proposed rulemaking aimed at easing the licensing burden for commercial launch and reentry operators under 14 C.F.R. Part 450, representing the first concrete outputs from the Space Policy Administration, Coordination, and Execution (SPACE) Task Force recently formed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).... By: Holland & Knight LLP

On September 30, Governor Newsom signed SB 574, thus creating—for the first time—statutory guardrails on attorneys’ and arbitrators’ use of generative artificial intelligence (AI). The law, which comes into effect in January 2027, imposes new verification requirements on lawyers while requiring that certain uses of generative AI be disclosed.... By: WilmerHale

On October 2, 2026 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it has agreed to settle its price discrimination case against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (Southern Glazer’s), the first Robinson-Patman Act (RPA) enforcement action settled by a federal enforcement agency in more than 20 years.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

In early June, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its new National Enforcement Plan (NEP). The NEP is a helpful document, as it essentially serves as a road map that will guide the agency’s enforcement efforts through 2029. Originally published in Iron & Steel Technology - October 2026.... By: Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

Congress is considering a bill that would let patents on prescription drugs be rendered unenforceable over an honest paperwork error, even when the underlying invention is genuinely new, non-obvious, and valuable to patients. Supporters of the Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act (S. 2658), which the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee reported in July, say it will lower drug prices by closing what they describe as a loophole that drugmakers use to extend their m

Cal/OSHA has commenced formal rulemaking to implement Senate Bill 606’s Egregious and Enterprise-wide violation classifications.... By: Seyfarth Shaw LLP

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a statement confirming that the Upper Tribunal will hear legal challenges to its motor finance redress scheme from 16 to 26 February 2027.... By: A&O Shearman

On 7 September 2026, the UK Government launched an open consultation (which will remain open until 30 November 2026) on “Modernising Corporate Reporting”, proposing significant changes to the corporate reporting regime under the Companies Act 2006 (Companies Act) with the aim of generating more useful disclosures for investors.... By: Hogan Lovells Cadwalader

On October 14, 2026, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. announced the formation of the office's first Corporate Crime and Antitrust Task Force (the "Task Force"), targeting antitrust violations, health care fraud, and other consumer fraud by corporations and their executives.... By: Jones Day

The White House believed it could turn capital punishment into entertainment thanks to the Supreme Court.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation announced on October 14, 2026 that for 2027 premiums for multiemployer pension plans will be a flat $42 per participant. This represents a 5% increase from 2026 rates (a $2 increase) and a 40% increase from rate levels 10 years ago ($30 per participant).... By: Morgan Lewis - ML Benefits

On October 15, 2026, FERC issued a draft policy statement proposing to end its requirement that natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) project applicants submit air dispersion modeling for environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).... By: Troutman Pepper Locke

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek recently directed the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to use its existing administrative authority and discretion to pause processing and issuing air and water discharge permits for new or expanded data center facilities until July 1, 2027.... By: Ballard Spahr LLP

News 12: Gov. Josh Stein is criticizing recent State Board of Elections changes for mail-in ballots, saying the changes have contributed to thousands more absentee ballot rejections. In a social media post, Gov. Stein said the rejection rate is twice… Continue reading

From today's decision by Judge John Sinatra (W.D.N.Y.) in Heeter v. James: New York enacted a first-of-its-kind law prohibiting law-abiding residents-who

In this episode of Regulatory Oversight, Ashley Taylor and Clayton Friedman, co-leaders of Troutman Pepper Locke’s State Attorneys General (AG)

On September 28, 2026, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced the final version of a new class deviation, titled “Basic Safeguarding of Data within Large Language Model Artificial Intelligence Systems,” that applies compliance requirements to contracts involving the use of large language models (LLMs). The new clause went into effect on October 19, 2026, and... Continue Reading

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration has to continue providing gender-affirming care to inmates in federal prisons as litigation on efforts to change the policy continues.

The Court contrasted Section 175(4) of the BNSS with the erstwhile Section 156(3) of the CrPC.

The Supreme Court refused the Trump administration’s bid to stop providing transgender inmates hormone treatments and certain surgeries on Wednesday, declining to lift a lower judge’s block over the dissents of two conservative justices. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) policy would taper treatments for inmates currently receiving them, and officials would also need to stop providing...

DOL withdraws tipped-worker rule; Instacart settles hiring-bias claims; Phillips 66 locks out New Jersey refinery workers.

Chris Willis, a partner in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Consumer Financial Services Practice Group, was quoted in the October 19, 2026,

In Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church v. Township of Collier, (3d Cir., Oct. 19, 2026), the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction to bar enforcement of zoning provisions that prevent a Church from building shrine on land it owns. The majority held that even though the Church is likely to ultimately succeed on the merits of its

Liberal justice says recent decisions on redistricting and campaign finance have undermined democracy and polarized US even more US politics live – latest updates Elena Kagan criticized rulings made by the US supreme court’s conservative majority this week, arguing that its recent decisions on redistricting and campaign finance had undermined America’s democracy. “The court has kind of blinded itself to the very deleterious effects of their rulings on how the political system works,” said Kagan,

**Tiyasha Introduction The Supreme Court in Louis De Raedt and later in Sarbananda Sonowal held that the power of the Government of India to expel foreigners is absolute and unlimited and there is no provision in the Constitution fettering its discretion. Although delivered in the context of a self-admitted foreign national, years later, the constitutionally […]

Justice Elena Kagan offered a pointed critique on Tuesday of recent Supreme Court decisions that opened the door for more political spending and weakened key voting rights protections, suggesting those rulings by her conservative colleagues have driven the country further apart. Kagan, one of three liberal justices on the high court, said during remarks at...

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order on Monday in BMG Rights Management (US) LLC v. Vetter affirming the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s judgment granting a songwriter ownership of the worldwide copyright in “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love).” The Court entered the affirmance under 28 U.S.C. Section 2109, following a September 30 reply in which BMG Rights Management (US) LLC and the other petitioners urged the Court to grant certiorari and reverse.

A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court in Delhi on Wednesday ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after accepting the sureties furnished by them, bringing their judicial custody to an end. Assistant Commissioner of Police Ritu Raj, acting as the Special Executive Magistrate, passed the release order after […]

On Monday, the Supreme Court granted a petition to settle a dispute over the federal government’s power to ban the production of home-produced distilled spirits.

More than four months after Bill C-34 was introduced (and about ten days after I posted about it ), the government released its Charter statement for the Safe Social Media Act. While there was no doubt the government would insist its bill is Charter-compliant, the question was how it would defend the under-16 social media ban, which I have argued is unconstitutional and whose French counterpart the Constitutional Council struck down in August . On that front, the statement is noticeably weak, ci

Outside task force needed to investigate Chicago police shootings: Illinois AG The Office of the Illinois Attorney General on Tuesday called for the formation of a new law enforcement task force to investigate shootings by Chicago Police officers. Source: Chicago Tribune

Apple can’t escape trial in massive class action over photo face scans A federal judge has largely rejected Apple’s push to avoid either a trial or a settlement payout in a potentially massive class action seeking damages under Illinois’ biometrics privacy law. Source: Legal Newsline

On September 17, 2026, the European Data Protection Board adopted Guidelines 3/2025 on the interplay between the Digital Services Act and the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Continue Reading ›

Gwynne Wilcox's lawsuit is finally over.

Plus, the Supreme Court’s next major case on the free exercise of religion.

“Regulatory Four-Night: Who can fire US Attorneys? The Missing Clear-Statement Analysis; A Thought Experiment About Vacatur, A Reason for Judge Greg Katsas’s Influence, A Firsthand Account of Ken Paxton, and More.” Aaron L. Nielson has this post at Civitas Outlook.

On 12 October 2026 the United Kingdom’s Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) paused its Control List Classification service, through which exporters had sought official advice on whether their goods, software, or technology fall within the control lists, and two days later it widened the dual-use open general export licence (OGEL) and the two OGELs for...... Continue Reading

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a 1989 criminal appeal and upheld the life sentence of a man convicted of stabbing a person to death over a land dispute in Bareilly. The Court held that differences between the FIR and the dying declaration about how the victim reached the hospital were minor and did not […]

*Says “The Director Was Not Acting In A Vacuum” A consulting firm, Bizplus Consulting Services Ltd, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeking an investigation into alleged conflicting representations by the Director of Enforcement of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Chukwuemeka Tony Ubani, and asking that his clearance for appointment to […]

Federal officials reached an agreement over mortgage rate benefits for military borrowers.

Nine former FBI employees — including agents, intelligence analysts, and staff specialists — have sued in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking reinstatement after being fired earlier this year. According to the complaint, the terminations were not based on misconduct or performance, but on their assigned work connected to the investigation into former President Donald... Continue Reading

Nine former FBI employees — including agents, intelligence analysts, and staff specialists — have sued in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking reinstatement after being fired earlier this year. According to the complaint, the terminations were not based on misconduct or performance, but on their assigned work connected to the investigation into former President Donald...

The newly appointed judges of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice have pledged to uphold judicial independence and integrity, tackle delays in adjudication and strengthen compliance with the Court’s judgments, amid renewed emphasis on restoring public confidence in regional justice delivery. The judges made the commitment as they began a five-day orientation programme on Monday, […]

A Thousand Words Cannot Carry A Single Basket Of Yams- African Proverb By Folarinwa Aluko Government is judged by its actions, not its declarations. A government cannot claim to promote innovation merely by publishing a policy that promises to do so. The test is whether the Policy understands the conditions that drive innovation, identifies the […]

The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Zamfara North Senatorial District over gross non-compliance with the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act. The judgment was delivered yesterday by Justice Tunde Oyebamiji Awotoye, who upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court, Gusau, which […]

The National Commission for Women, Maharashtra State Commission for Women and TISS Mumbai organised a consultation on reviewing state-specific laws, focusing on women’s property rights, workplace safety and access to justice.

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has called on magistrates in Nigeria to invest consistently in self-development. Justice Dipeolu also urged magistrates to read judgments of superior courts, keep abreast of legislative developments, improve their legal research and judgment-writing skills, and participate in continuing judicial education. She equally cautioned magistrates against treating […]

We know not everyone has the access, skills or confidence to use online services. From April 2027, changes to our Digital Support Service will help more people access justice and improve support for some of our most disadvantaged users.

SEBI has amended Regulation 62-A of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, simplifying the mandatory listing requirement by restricting it to debt securities issued after a listed entity's debt securities have been listed on a stock exchange.

10/21/1919: Abrams v. United States argued.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is finalizing a new information collection that would include weekly and quarterly reporting forms that must be completed by permitted payment stablecoin issuers and foreign payment stablecoin issuers registered with the OCC under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is issuing this bulletin to clarify the process for filing applications and requesting waivers under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act).

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is issuing a final rule to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act regarding the issuance of payment stablecoins and certain related activities by entities subject to the OCC's jurisdiction. The final rule will be effective on January 18, 2027.

In Doe v. Catholic Relief Services, (4th Cir., Oct. 16. 2026), the U.S.4th Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision affirmed a Maryland federal district court's holding that Catholic Relief Services violated Title VII and the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act by denying health insurance coverage to an IT analyst's same-sex spouse. In a 66-page majority opinion, the court said in

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced a final rule to implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

" Instilling confidence in the election process is vital for the maintenance of constitutional democracy," the Court said.

The Delhi High Court will hear on Thursday, October 22, a petition filed by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora challenging preventive proceedings initiated against her by Delhi Police and a notice directing her to furnish a personal bond of ₹10,000 with one surety to maintain peace. Justice Subramonium Prasad listed the matter […]

The Kerala High Court has held that placing the penis on the vagina of a three-year-old girl, after removing her undergarment and causing her pain, is not a mere “touch” under Section 7 of the POCSO Act but amounts to penetrative sexual assault under Section 3. Justice A. Badharudeen confirmed the conviction of the accused […]

Madras High Court held that exploiting familial bonds and emotions to influence voters could not, by itself, amount to undue influence, as it did not overpower adults’ free will. The Court observed that adults who chose to vote a particular way in response to their children’s demands were exercising their own volition

After ten years, what are some of the tried and tested methods of civic-center success?

Heineken has been told to pay a €111.2 million tab by an Amsterdam court, which ruled that the brewer is liable for damages caused by its Greek subsidiary’s abuse of dominance. The penalty – which includes €67.8 million in interest – comes after years of back-and-forth about whether the Dutch courts could hear Macedonian Thrace Brewery’s claim from almost a decade ago. Also in The Briefing, France...

In new research, Nicholas Short, Sophie Hill, and Jacob Brown examine "ideological capture": regulatory capture that works not through lobbying but through experts defining what goals and values regulators may consider. Surveying the public alongside antitrust lawyers, they find the consumer welfare standard marginalizes important public concerns, like the risk of increased layoffs or more lobbying power. Read it at ProMarket >>

A Czech customs dispute over suspected imports of Chinese-origin goods turns on two OLAF missions to Taiwan, in 2013 and 2014. The Czech Supreme Administrative Court asks whether OLAF had a legal basis to investigate there, whether its reports are valid, and how much they can prove when their content cannot be verified.

The Karnataka High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against 13 people accused of displaying posters in Mangaluru criticising the Supreme Court’s 2019 Ayodhya judgment. The Court held that expressing disagreement with a judicial decision and demanding justice falls within the constitutional protection of freedom of speech and does not, by itself, constitute an offence under […]

A bail court does not weigh evidence or defences such as language of disclosure statements, held the Division Bench.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Gwalior has refused to condone a 213-day delay in a writ appeal filed by the State, holding that processing a file through various authorities and obtaining legal opinion and permission cannot, by itself, amount to sufficient cause. The Court dismissed the State’s appeal as barred by limitation. A Division […]

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission to withhold publication of the final list of candidates for the upcoming urban local body elections until October 26, following allegations that several opposition candidates were prevented from submitting their nomination papers. A vacation bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana […]

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have moved the Delhi High Court seeking to set aside an October 19 order extending their judicial custody in preventive proceedings under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). They have alleged that their continued detention, despite submitting sureties, violates their fundamental right to personal liberty […]

The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, has held that a party cannot automatically forfeit earnest money or advance payments under an agreement to sell without proving actual loss or legal injury caused by a breach of contract. Affirming the dismissal of a suit for specific performance, the Court ruled that […]

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday permitted Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to withdraw their petitions challenging an order extending their judicial custody, after advising them to pursue the remedies available under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Justice Subramonium Prasad permitted the withdrawal after questioning why the petitioners […]

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a review petition filed by the State Bank of India against its earlier order holding that the terms governing a retired officer’s loans did not empower the bank to prematurely close the loan accounts merely because he had attained the age of superannuation. A Division Bench of Justice Vivek […]

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has upheld a cheque bounce conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. It held that the accused’s plea that the complainant filled in the cheque could not be accepted at the revision stage, because it was never suggested to the complainant during cross-examination. Justice Rakesh Kainthla dismissed the […]