Securities and Exchange Commission

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.21.23

* George RR Martin among the authors suing OpenAI for allowing the algorithm to train on their work. Did the AI learn to sit on an anticipated project for over a decade? Because otherwise it's not clear what it's learning from Martin. [Reuters] * Former DHS Secretary turned security consultant Michael Chernoff warns that AI needs proactive guardrails. Great point... now go back to collecting millions of dollars from the Supreme Court to tell them they did a great job investigating the Dobbs leak without bothering to interview the most likely suspects. [Bloomberg Law News] * Attorney attempted to attend two CLEs at once. Most would call this blatantly unethical, but it's also impressive multitasking. [ABA Journal] * The Feds closed up the investigation into Los Angeles water and power billing violations -- involving allegations of attorney misconduct -- without charging anyone. [LA Times] * SEC issues new rules to bar funds from touting ESG work when they aren't really investing in ESG work. A sound policy that won't matter when Republicans ban private enterprise from spending money on causes they don't like. [Law360] * DISCO hit with a securities class action over financial disclosures. [Legaltech News] * Which seems to be the least of the problems over there. [Daily Mail]

By Above the Law
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.26.23

* Biglaw collections experience slowdown. Time for Cravath to break out Rocco and Sal to break a few thumbs over at PwC. [American Lawyer] * A look at how judges manage to deal with gift offers besides just hopping on a private jet. [Bloomberg Law News] * JP Morgan fined by SEC after deleting 47 million emails involved in multiple investigations. Oopsie! [CNBC] * Fenwick doesn't have to produce documents in Sam Bankman-Fried case with judge ruling that the defense was just looking for value in nothing. [Law360] * Judge Luttig, formerly of the Fourth Circuit, wrote a brutal rebuke of the Republican party's Trump addiction. [New York Times] * Microsoft remains cool as workers organize, putting pressure on the rest of the video game industry. [Bloomberg Law News] * A ranking of television lawyers. Not sure about any list without Harvey Birdman, but all right. [Giant Freakin Robot]

By Above the Law
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.01.23

* Donald Trump seeks mistrial after judge refused to let defense counsel play fast and loose with the definition of "bringing a rape charge." Yeah, the argument "it's unfair that you were more precise" is rarely a winner. [Reuters] * Smoke grenades used to intimidate barrister. Damn, maybe things aren't more civil across the pond. [Roll on Friday] * So, if uncovering the securities fraud is likely to bankrupt the company, whistleblowers are better off looking the other way? Great incentive system! [Bloomberg Law News] * North Carolina overrules precedent from last year because nothing matters and it's just a superlegislature. [Law360] * Sugar daddy lawyer sued young woman for $166 million. It did not work well for him. [Insider] * Maritime firm Ince seemed destined for Davy Jones's locker, but Axiom has thrown in a life preserver. [Splash 247] * A profile on how ASS Law leverages Supreme Court connections to artificially inflate its apparent prestige. [NY Times] * ... and of course this leveraging includes vacation boondoggles for right-wing justices. [Mother Jones]

By Above the Law
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.30.23

* SEC seeks $200 million in real money to deal with enforcement problems caused by fake money. [Law360] * We noted in our coverage of the Disney-DeSantis battle that Trump was going to roast this guy for embarrassing himself in a land deal. A Trump PAC has already started. [CNN] * Law schools growing antsy over new USNWR rankings after they yanked their data from the process. The elite schools will still be the elite schools, but even if there's not much change, what does it mean when we all know it's not backed by the school's data? [Reuters Legal] * Legislators hate TikTok more than they like actually legislating, which totally tracks. [Bloomberg Law News] * Federal rules may craft special provisions for MDL litigation. Has it really been that much of a problem? Judges have managed to handle it for decades at this point. [Law.com] * Meta settles class action for $725 million, which might be the most the company has lost without Zuck wearing VR goggles. [Courthouse News Service] * Paltrow trial "riddled With 'embarrassing' mistakes by legal teams." Like allowing it to happen in the first place? [Newsweek]

By Above the Law