Legal News & Analysis
Breaking developments in recording laws, privacy legislation, digital rights, and legal technology.
525 articles
Maine Health Care Noncompete Law: L.D. 2200 Takes Effect July 29
Maine's L.D. 2200 took effect July 29, 2026, restricting noncompete agreements against Maine health care practitioners unless they hold ownership interest and patient choice is preserved.
New Hampshire Expands Domestic Violence Law, Adds Sexual Assault Protective Order (2026)
New Hampshire expanded its domestic violence law and created a new sexual assault protective order on July 13, 2026. Here is what HB 1576 and HB 1651 change.
VA Disability Claims Backlog Drops Below 70,000 for First Time Since 2020
VA's disability claims backlog fell below 70,000 for the first time since 2020, a 74% drop, but VA told Congress 80% of pending claims are still gathering evidence.
Clearview AI Settlement Vacated by Seventh Circuit, Sent Back to District Court
The Seventh Circuit vacated approval of the Clearview AI biometric privacy class settlement on July 13, 2026, citing inadequate class representation. Here is what happens next.
Hawaii Deepfake Law: Act 247 Lets Victims Sue (2026)
Hawaii's Act 247 (HB 2137), signed July 14, 2026, creates a civil right to sue over AI deepfakes, with damages up to $25,000 per item plus injunctions.
West Virginia Court Affirms Workers' Comp for Occupational Cancer
West Virginia's Intermediate Court of Appeals affirmed workers' comp benefits for a state worker's bladder and kidney cancer as a compensable occupational disease.
Florida's Restaurant Fee-Disclosure Law (SB 606) Takes Effect July 1, 2026
Florida's SB 606 took effect July 1, 2026, requiring restaurants to disclose automatic service charges and other operations fees on menus, apps, and receipts.
Hunter Biden Wins $1.7M Defamation Default Judgment Against Byrne
A federal judge entered a $1.7 million default judgment for Hunter Biden against Patrick Byrne, who claimed Biden solicited an $800 million bribe from Iran.
Google Nest Doorbell Facial Recognition Lawsuits: Bystander Faceprint Claims Filed in California
Two proposed class actions, filed June 29 and July 1, 2026 in N.D. Cal., allege Google's Nest 'Familiar Face Detection' scans bystanders' faces without consent.
Missouri's Bentley and Mason's Law: Drunk Drivers Who Kill a Parent Must Now Pay Child Support
Missouri's HB1740, signed July 9, 2026, requires drunk drivers convicted of killing a parent to pay child support. Effective August 28, 2026. What it requires.
Supreme Court Declines to Block Texas App Store Age Verification Law (SB 2420)
SCOTUS denied emergency bids to block Texas's SB 2420 app store age verification law on July 6, 2026. The merits are undecided; Fifth Circuit review is next.
Florida Supreme Court Expands Workers' Comp for Workplace Assault and Violence Victims
Florida Supreme Court ruled July 9, 2026 that a shooting victim's workplace injury was compensable, rejecting a stricter causation test in workers' comp law.
ROAD to Housing Act Becomes Law, Caps Institutional Buyers at 350 Homes
H.R. 6644 became law July 11, 2026 without Trump's signature, barring institutional investors with 350+ homes from buying more single-family homes.
Has Barack Obama Been Sued for Defamation?
There's no official tally of Obama defamation lawsuits. Here's what is actually documented, including the one case naming him as a defendant. Verified 7/11/26.
Maine's Employer Surveillance Law Takes Effect July 29: Notice Rules for Call Recording, GPS, and Cameras
Maine's L.D. 61 (26 M.R.S. Section 620-A) takes effect July 29, 2026, requiring employers to disclose call recording, GPS tracking, and camera monitoring.
Virginia Judge Extends Injunction Against Assault Firearm Sales Ban Statewide
A Washington County judge ruled July 7 that his injunction on Virginia's assault firearm sale ban applies statewide from July 21, 2026; an appeal is expected.
FTC and Five States Settle With John Deere, Forcing Open Its Repair Software for Farmers
The FTC and five states filed a stipulated order July 8, 2026 requiring Deere to give farmers and independent shops the same repair software as its dealers.
New Jersey Enacts a Sweeping New Data Broker Law (A5328), Banning Sensitive-Data Sales
NJ Gov. Sherrill signed A5328 on June 30, 2026, banning sensitive-data sales and creating a data-broker registry with fees up to $1.5 million and $50,000 per-record penalties.
Missouri Enacts Automatic 'Clean Slate' Expungement for Drug Offenses Under SB 1421
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed SB 1421 on July 8, 2026, creating an automatic expungement system for eligible drug convictions. Here's how it works.
Illinois Woman Sues Apple Over Face ID, Alleging Hidden Eye Scans Violate State Biometric Law
A newly filed class action alleges Apple's Face ID collects iris and retina scans without the specific consent Illinois law requires. Apple has not responded; claims are unproven.
DOJ Files Proposed Settlement With Willow Bridge Over Alleged Rent-Algorithm Collusion
The DOJ filed a proposed consent decree on July 6, 2026 with landlord Willow Bridge in the RealPage rent-algorithm antitrust case. The settlement still needs court approval.
FTC Settles with Tenant-Screening Company RentGrow Over Alleged FCRA Accuracy Violations
The FTC announced a $2.25 million settlement with tenant-screening company RentGrow over alleged FCRA violations involving duplicate records, mishandled disputes, and inconsistent consumer notices.
Washington Supreme Court Strikes Down Live-In Caregiver Wage Exemption
The Washington Supreme Court ruled July 9, 2026 that the state's live-in caregiver wage exemption is unconstitutional, entitling live-in caregivers to minimum wage and overtime under the MWA.
Florida Supreme Court: A Lying Plaintiff Can Lose the Entire Case, Not Just Some Damages
The Florida Supreme Court ruled July 9, 2026 in Publix v. Goga that a fraud-on-the-court finding can dismiss an entire injury lawsuit, reversing a Fourth DCA split. Here is what the ruling changes.