Buckley Sandler

* All right everyone. Let’s use our Dr. Evil voices: frivolous lawsuit earns Donald Trump sanction of… one MILLION dollars! Or $937K at least. [NY Times]

* If he’s interested in pushing his luck, his lawsuit against his niece is still going. [Courthouse News Service]

* South Texas Law Houston and Roger Williams Law have both withdrawn support for the USNWR rankings. Without that precious data, how will U.S. News know to keep placing them in the bottom tier? [Law.com]

* Musk likely to take the stand today in Tesla trial. Facing questions from people he can’t suspend? It’s a whole new world out there. [Reuters]

* The trifecta of going hardcore anti-reproductive freedom AND trafficking in rape apologist tropes (women’s testimony means “unsupported”) AND demanding the Court’s 1A & 2A rules be suspended solely for right-wing justices in the same column? Chef’s kiss. [Washington Post]

* And Orrick will merge with Buckley. [Bloomberg]

* President Donald Trump has appealed a federal judge’s order allowing the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s subpoena of his financial records to the D.C. Circuit, where — GASP! — Merrick Garland serves as chief judge. The fact that Garland is involved apparently matters a lot to the MSM, you guys. [The Hill]

* “The memo says they don’t have to assert a legitimate legislative purpose — or any purpose at all.” According to a confidential draft IRS memo, tax returns must be given to Congress upon request, unless the president claims executive privilege. This pretty much blows up Trump’s rationale for refusing to turn over his taxes thus far, but opens up a whole new way for him to avoid doing so. [Washington Post]

* “The Supreme Court is stacked against us for the first time in my lifetime. I feel like it’s scarier than ever before.” As hundreds of people protested state abortion bans before the Supreme Court, Democratic presidential candidates joined in, lending their support to all the women gathered. [Reuters]

* Meet Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society executive Vice President who serves as Trump’s unofficial judicial adviser to make the federal judiciary “great” (i.e., extremely conservative) again. How’s he doing that? With millions upon millions of dollars of “dark money.” He didn’t want to talk about that part of it. [Washington Post]

* Buckley, the law firm formerly known as Buckley Sandler, has filed suit against Johnny Depp, claiming that the actor skipped out on about $350K in legal fees and costs. Leave the poor man alone, he’s got better things to spend his money on… like scarves. [American Lawyer]

* “Nobody should live their life as a bystander. You’re going to do bigger things than me,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor tells an audience in what will almost assuredly turn out to be a lie. [Daily Report Online]

* While examining Uber’s former CEO, Charles Verhoeven of Quinn Emanuel successfully played a clip from Wall Street for jurors in the Uber-Waymo trial. Next up, “Dude where’s your car?” while interviewing the engineer who allegedly stole automotive plans. [The Recorder]

* Andy Sandler is leaving Buckley Sandler to concentrate on his other three full-time jobs. Slacker. [Litigation Daily]

* After winning a case for a wheelchair-bound former prosecutor and netting a share of her back pay settlement, attorney Mark Moody is suing his client, seeking a share of her salary on the logic that he technically “won” her job back entitling him to a share of her salary going forward. Wow. [NY Post]

* Judge says serial objector engaged in conduct “unfitting for any member of the legal profession.” But, you know, offered no sanction whatsoever so that was more of an FYI. [American Lawyer]

* Why Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels probably won’t be sued by the Colts despite the fact that they clearly detrimentally relied on his promises. [Sports Illustrated]

* If you saw high-heeled shoes with a red sole, would you know who made them? Obviously. Yet Louboutin is embroiled in litigation over whether or not the brand really has a trademark. Another example of how if you parse every legal conundrum to death, you will only achieve absurd results — [Quartz]