Tufts Student's Visa Record Must Be Restored, Judge Says

By Julie Manganis

A Massachusetts federal judge on Monday ordered the government to reinstate Tufts University graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk's student visa record, finding she has already suffered irreparable harm, including missed professional and academic opportunities, from her record's termination following detention by immigration officers in March.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Immigrant Class Certified In Guantánamo Detention Suit

By Ganesh Setty

A D.C. federal court certified a class of noncitizens challenging their detentions at Guantánamo Bay before removal, finding the Immigration and Nationality Act likely doesn't authorize the Trump administration to hold them there.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Feds Say No Injunction Is Warranted In Protester Removals Suit

By Britain Eakin

The Trump administration urged a Massachusetts federal judge to limit relief after the court ruled in September that noncitizens targeted by the government for arrest and removal for their pro-Palestinian views have the same free speech rights as U.S. citizens.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

App Maker Says 1st Amendment Bars AG's Removal Demand

By Ganesh Setty

The developer of an application allowing users to report sightings of immigration enforcement authorities accused U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday in D.C. federal court of violating his free speech rights by getting Apple to remove it.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Conservative Group Sues For Boston Mayor's Emails On ICE

By Julie Manganis

Conservative advocacy group Judicial Watch asked a judge on Monday to order the city of Boston to turn over emails of Mayor Michelle Wu and her staff related to a request by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to prepare a plan to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Afghan, Iraqi Allies Urge Judge To Enforce Visa Processing

By Tom Lotshaw

A certified class of Afghan and Iraqi nationals urged a D.C. federal judge to enforce a court-approved plan for the U.S. government to make headway on its extensive delays processing special immigrant visa applications from people who assisted troops overseas.

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Terrorist Label For Maduro Poses New Risks For US Firms

The State Department's recent designation of President Nicolás Maduro, and other Venezuelan government and military officials, as members of a foreign terrorist organization drastically increases the level of caution companies must exercise when doing business in the region to mitigate potential civil, criminal and regulatory risk, say attorneys at Freshfields.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Opinion

Horizontal Stare Decisis Should Not Be Casually Discarded

Eliminating the so-called law of the circuit doctrine — as recently proposed by a Fifth Circuit judge, echoing Justice Neil Gorsuch’s concurrence in Loper Bright — would undermine public confidence in the judiciary’s independence and create costly uncertainty for litigants, says Lawrence Bluestone at Genova Burns.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Getting The Message Across

Communications and brand strategy during a law firm merger represent a crucial thread that runs through every stage of a combination and should include clear messaging, leverage modern marketing tools and embrace the chance to evolve, says Ashley Horne at Womble Bond.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Bonus Spotlight

MoFo, Kellogg Hansen Exceed Prevailing BigLaw Bonus Scale

By Anna Sanders

Morrison Foerster LLP and boutique law firm Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick PLLC both recently unveiled above-market bonuses, according to a MoFo in-house memo and a media report. 

Memorandum attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

Hagens Berman's Novel DOJ Referral May Have Chilling Effect

By Emma Cueto

A Pennsylvania federal judge's unusual decision to refer prominent plaintiffs firm Hagens Berman LLP to the U.S. Department of Justice for possible criminal investigation over its pursuit of claims related to morning sickness drug thalidomide could have a chilling effect on lawyers' advocacy, law professors and attorneys said.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trustee Says Winston & Strawn Is Liable For $1.7B Fintech Bust

By Lynn LaRowe

The trustee of the bankrupt self-styled "anti-woke" financial technology startup GloriFi said Winston & Strawn LLP shouldn't be allowed to escape a malpractice lawsuit over the company's $1.7 billion failure, saying the firm was a knowing participant in the allegedly unlawful activities of its then-CEO.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Consulting Co. Says Law Firms' Malpractice Cost It $10M

By Rachel Konieczny

A Colorado consulting company told a state court that an Am Law 200 firm and a now-dissolved law firm committed legal malpractice that cost the company $10 million in a lending transaction. 

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Uber May Win Sanctions On Atty Who Disclosed MDL Docs

By Bonnie Eslinger and Mike Curley

A California federal judge said Tuesday it appeared an attorney for plaintiffs claiming Uber failed to protect passengers from sexual assault "acted in a cavalier manner" with a protective order in the multidistrict litigation, but didn't rule on Uber's requests for monetary sanctions nor its bid to kick the attorney off the plaintiff steering committee.

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

Democrats Push For $1.76B To Fix Defender Budget Shortfall

By Courtney Bublé

Almost 50 Democratic lawmakers are urging congressional appropriators to fix the long-standing budget shortfall for federal defenders in the upcoming full-year budget.

Letter attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DOJ Says It Could Indict Comey Again

By Jared Foretek

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday said it may once again seek charges against ex-FBI Director James Comey, asking a D.C. federal judge to dissolve a temporary restraining order that bars prosecutors from using evidence seized from Comey's former attorney.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Analysis

FERC's Fate Uncertain As Humphrey's Executor Teeters

By Keith Goldberg

The future of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may hinge on whether the U.S. Supreme Court will remake its 90-year-old precedent that protects members of independent agencies from being fired at will by the president.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Senate Confirms 3 Judges For La., Miss.

By Courtney Bublé

The U.S. Senate confirmed three judicial nominees Tuesday for federal courts in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »