AGP Executive Report

Fraud & Corporate Accountability: Selena Gomez’s lawyer Mathew Rosengart calls Wondermind’s Delaware fraud and breach-of-contract claims “completely meritless,” saying a motion to dismiss will target “baseless” allegations tied to nearly $1.2 million investor claims. Judicial Integrity: A Quebec Court of Appeal ordered a man to pay $1,000 after he cited fake ChatGPT-generated court decisions, including two he claimed were from Canada’s Supreme Court. Protest & Sentencing: UK politics meets criminal law as the Attorney General is urged to review a “lenient” 14-month suspended sentence for a pro-Palestinian activist who climbed Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower and caused major disruption. Criminal Justice & Procedure: Nebraska lawmakers advanced major changes—LB1075 reshapes election law and village governance; LB764 expands who counts as a “law enforcement officer” for corrections staff; LB935 expands court fees and adds consequences for frivolous civil claims. Public Safety & Law Enforcement: Qatar warns that filming accident victims can trigger criminal penalties, including up to two years in prison and QR10,000 fines. Bankruptcy Watch: Rebel Creamery filed for Chapter 11 after losing a $23.8 million packaging/trade-dress fight to Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Courts & Governance: Karnataka’s High Court issued notice to Lokayukta police over alleged inaction in a land-allotment complaint tied to a trust linked to Mallikarjun Kharge’s family. US Supreme Court Reform: Democrats push fresh Supreme Court overhaul proposals amid frustration with the court’s recent rulings.

US National Security & Courts: A US appeals court ordered a rethink of the Pentagon’s move to keep DJI on its Chinese military-linked blacklist, faulting a lower court for relying only on unclassified material. Malta Jury Reform: Law professor Kevin Aquilina urged Malta to create a commission to review the jury system, arguing it’s too complex and jurors are effectively held for long periods without adequate support. India Criminal Procedure: Mumbai’s sessions court rejected a rape accused’s bid to open a shop near the victim’s home, saying bail limits must protect the victim and directly relate to the allegations. Illinois Assisted-Suicide Challenge: Medical professionals and a nursing home sued to block Illinois’ End-of-Life Options Act, arguing it forces participation in assisted suicide against religious and medical beliefs. US Baby-Formula Litigation: Reckitt faces a key Illinois bellwether trial over claims its Enfamil failed to warn about NEC risks; Reckitt denies wrongdoing. Online Defamation: Netflix moved to dismiss Tyra Banks’ defamation case over “America’s Next Top Model” docuseries edits, saying it reflects ordinary editorial decisions. Kenya IP Law: Parliament invited public input on a proposed Kenya Intellectual Property Bill to create a single IP authority and a specialized tribunal, including for AI-assisted inventions. Scotland Local Governance: A report alleges councillors are being removed via “kangaroo court” ethics tribunals, with criticism aimed at Scotland’s standards watchdog. Haiti Church Under Pressure: A bishop warned gangs are trying to silence the Church as elections are delayed and violence keeps parishes and schools under threat.

Birthright Citizenship Fight: The ACLU asked a federal court to reaffirm that Trump’s renewed birthright citizenship push is unconstitutional after the Supreme Court already rejected similar efforts. Border Wall Litigation: A federal judge refused to pause the Tohono O’odham Nation’s bid to stop a 62-mile border wall stretch, clearing the way for continued construction. Charter School vs. Union: A New York judge denied a teachers’ union’s bid to block a charter school opening, rejecting claims about “incubating” the school at a different site. Courtroom Procedure: In the Sheng Thao federal bribery case, a judge ordered prosecutors to cut exhibits from 1,700 to 300 (later allowing 500). Tech & Privacy: Fiji is reviewing drone rules, with calls for monitoring and stronger compliance. IP & Piracy: India’s Madras High Court granted an interim order to block websites hosting pirated copies of “Batwara 1947.” Legislation Watch (Nebraska): Multiple senators backed LB935 (court fees, tracking/stalking, no-contact rules) and LB1075 (election and village governance changes), while LB764 expanded law-enforcement status for some corrections staff.

US Courts & Tech Competition: A federal judge ordered Google to make it easier to install rival app stores on Android, finding “anticompetitive” friction in the Play Store ecosystem. App Economy Litigation: Apple asked for court-supervised talks with Epic Games and proposed tiered fees for off-App Store payments, as the long-running fight over App Store rules continues. Election Law & Ballots: In Arizona, the state Supreme Court said GOP-written Prop. 212 voter explanations were improper, even as another case over whether there are enough valid signatures keeps the measure in limbo. Social Media & Kids: France’s top constitutional body struck down Macron’s under-15 social media ban, dealing a blow to the policy while families in Paris react. Criminal Justice & Rights: A South Carolina federal court sided with a student punished for a “blasted” comment, ruling the school violated First Amendment protections. Public Safety & Training: Guam launched its first junior cadet program for high school students, while Malta rolled out a nationwide security plan for peak summer tourism. Corporate Liability: Vantage Specialty Chemicals agreed to settle 400+ Lake County ethylene oxide lawsuits, adding to the growing EtO litigation wave.

Toronto Bike Lanes: Ontario’s Court of Appeal cleared the way for the Ford government to remove Toronto bike lanes, saying a lower court improperly turned policy into a constitutional ruling. Election Integrity: The Arizona Supreme Court found GOP lawmakers handled Proposition 212’s voter-impact description illegally, while a separate Texas mail-ballot ID fight continues after a Fifth Circuit win for Ken Paxton. Trans Health Subpoena: A divided U.S. appeals court revived DOJ demands for records from transgender-care providers for minors, rejecting a lower court’s “bad faith” finding. Homelessness Funding: A federal judge ordered HUD to restore $240M in LA homelessness funding, calling the suspension unlawful under the HEARTH Act. Criminal Courts: In Georgia, a judge allowed a mother charged in a hot-car death to attend her son’s funeral under custody rules. Food Safety Lawsuit: DOJ sued Darwin’s Natural Pet Products over repeated bacterial contamination claims. Data Breach Watch: A law firm is investigating an alleged AMOS ransomware incident that may have exposed patient data. Corporate/Finance: Goodfood won court approval for a sale/investment process after bankruptcy protection. Consumer/Business Litigation: Investors sued Selena Gomez and Wondermind in Delaware over alleged securities fraud and broken promises. Local Noise Injunction: A Kenyan court kept a bar’s music ban in place pending a noise assessment.

AI & Courts: India’s Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider petitioners’ suggestions on ethics and transparency for AI used in welfare, policing, surveillance and content moderation. Privacy & Contempt: UK courts banned Meta smart glasses from judicial buildings, citing privacy rules and the risk of covert filming. Criminal Procedure: Kentucky’s Supreme Court heard arguments in a decades-old death penalty case tied to a 1987 double murder. Digital Evidence: Nigeria’s judges urged stronger authentication standards for AI-generated digital evidence and ongoing training for courts. Tech Litigation: Meta faces renewed state attorney general scrutiny over alleged social media addiction harms to young users. US Federal Courts: A judge pressed DOJ to explain redactions in the Epstein files after finding violations of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Corporate/Regulatory: Pasig RTC granted a preliminary injunction delaying NCR’s P85 wage hike, setting a P10B bond. Philippines Impeachment: Prosecutors urged the Senate impeachment court to scrutinize VP Sara Duterte’s remarks as potentially undermining proceedings. Legal Aid: Bangladesh reported major recoveries and case disposals under its legal aid system. Sports/Personal Injury: A Hawaii Supreme Court appeal was expedited over Tommy Waters’ eligibility for a Honolulu council seat.

US Civil Rights: A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard, saying the alleged incidents were “too isolated and episodic” to show ongoing Title VI noncompliance. Gun Licensing Fight: Colorado’s permit-to-purchase system faces a new injunction bid as the NRA and allies argue the process is too burdensome and unevenly available. Arbitration vs. Public Trial: A California judge ordered Michael Jackson’s accusers’ lawsuit into private arbitration, enforcing a 2019 arbitration clause. Tech & Discovery: Courts in Texas and New York shield AI prompts and outputs as attorney work product, while a Connecticut ruling shows the protection isn’t automatic. Immigration Enforcement: Advocacy groups asked a Los Angeles federal court to block warrantless ICE arrests unless officials show a likelihood of escape. Privacy & Driver Data: AG William Tong and a coalition sued to stop the Trump administration from demanding a database of sensitive driver records, threatening federal funding. Environment & Trade: Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld the Soy Moratorium, while partially sustaining state limits on incentives tied to the deal. Corporate Litigation: An appeals court revived a $6.7B Bristol Myers Squibb lawsuit over delayed drug approvals. Local Courts & Ballots: Florida’s Supreme Court rejected a Miami attorney’s ballot bid over how he paid a qualifying fee. Labor Law Debate: A proposed federal arbitration backstop for new labor contracts drew criticism from a Kansas business owner.

Press Freedom Settlement: Kansas’ Marion County agreed to pay $850,000 to former Marion County Record reporter Phyllis Zorn, ending her federal lawsuit over 2023 police raids that sparked national debate about searches of journalists’ materials. Courts & Procedure: The Philippines Supreme Court dismissed a bid to force the Senate to release a draft flood-control scam report, saying mandamus can’t compel disclosure of an unfinished document. Criminal Justice: A Hong Kong magistrate acquitted a man of assaulting his wife, citing contradictions in her testimony about childcare and who was present during the alleged attack. Social Media Regulation: Australia’s teen-account ban continues to drive legal pressure as Meta reports removing 756,000 under-16 accounts and the regulator weighs enforcement action. Speech vs. Law: Japan’s flag-desecration law took effect, with critics warning it could chill expression. Access to Justice: Michigan Immigrant Rights Center says federal funding lapses will leave hundreds of unaccompanied children without legal support. Tech & Rights: India’s Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to police facial recognition and biometric surveillance at protest sites. Legal Ethics: A UK tribunal struck off a Zimbabwean-born solicitor over a £31,000 property scam targeting nurses.

US Election & Courts: The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to quickly unblock its mail-voting restrictions after another lower-court loss, seeking stays of injunctions that would stop the order nationwide. Social Media & Speech: A Manhattan federal lawsuit accuses Trump/Truth Social of charging up to $100,000 a month for “early access” to “market-moving” posts, calling the scheme corrupt and unconstitutional. Privacy & Tech Regulation: Louisiana regulators overrode a judge and blocked Meta from having to turn over detailed job and electricity projections for its Hyperion data center, while Meta stock slid as privacy concerns and new legal risks mount. Immigration & Procedure: A D.C. Circuit ruling effectively ends Biden-era mass parole programs by dismissing the challenge for lack of standing/jurisdiction. Civil Rights & Education: Illinois courts blocked state in-state tuition and aid for undocumented students, just as universities issue updated award letters. Criminal Justice: A Kansas mother, Brandy Glover, faced charges after a 2-year-old was found unresponsive in a Wichita home tied to drug sales. International/Rule of Law: Philippines impeachment trial coverage focused on defense spokesperson rules under the sub judice ban. Corporate/Markets: FlightAware withdrew its fast-filed federal lawsuit against Kalshi after contract tweaks, ending the dispute without a merits ruling.

Supreme Court (Korea): Samsung Securities was ordered to pay NPS about 1.86 billion won over a 2018 dividend-share error, with the court limiting liability to 50% after finding partial responsibility. US Voting Rights: A federal judge blocked nationwide USPS steps tied to Trump’s mail-in voting restrictions, extending earlier injunctions while the Supreme Court weighs whether to lift them. Syrian Justice: A Damascus criminal court sentenced ousted President Bashar al-Assad (and others) to death in absentia for crimes against humanity. Iraq Security Law: The Iraqi PM ordered drafting legislation to curb the spread of weapons and keep them with authorized state institutions. Courtroom Safety: A bomb exploded at a court premises in Barishal, Bangladesh, prompting police and bomb-disposal response. Labor & Wages (Philippines): Labor groups asked the Supreme Court to nullify lower-court orders that postponed a minimum wage hike, arguing judges lacked jurisdiction. Local Governance (US): A Louisiana DA sided with the Lafayette Parish School System in a complaint over the Comeaux High School closure vote. Tech & Youth Lawsuits: A US appeals court refused to dismiss thousands of youth-addiction lawsuits against major social media platforms.

Amazon & Indigenous Land Rights: Brazil’s Supreme Court is set to hear cases that could narrow environmental protections after Congress overrode President Lula’s vetoes, including disputes over Indigenous land claims and whether a 1988 “cutoff” limits who can assert rights. Courtroom Conduct: In the Philippines, a Sandiganbayan justice scolded Tarlac Rep. Noel Rivera for wearing jeans to his arraignment, then reset the proceeding. Criminal Intimidation Sentence: A Malaysian court sentenced a former driver to three months for sending threatening WhatsApp voice recordings to a High Court judge. Anti-Graft & Political Accountability: Philippines prosecutors backed DOJ grave-threat complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte tied to remarks about a hitman. Climate Liability: A Paris court ruled TotalEnergies must account for customer-caused emissions risks under France’s Duty of Vigilance law, ordering a revised plan. Consumer & Tech Litigation: Apple faces a class action over alleged misleading claims about iCloud Private Relay privacy. US Housing Tax Fight: Trump says he’s weighing a federal legal challenge to New York’s “pied-à-terre” tax after a state judge temporarily blocked rollout. Child Exploitation Conviction: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced a 15-year sentence for a North Little Rock man convicted in a child pornography case.

Fourth Amendment Limits: A U.S. judge ruled “tower dump” warrants are per se unconstitutional, striking down cell-tower bulk location/time data requests in a Mississippi gang probe. Tech & IP: Rippling and Runlayer are fighting over alleged copying and AI patent claims after their partnership soured. Social Media Liability: A U.S. appeals court let thousands of youth-addiction lawsuits against Meta, Google, TikTok and others move forward, rejecting an early bid to block them. Adani Case Fallout: A federal judge dismissed U.S. fraud/bribery charges against Gautam Adani after DOJ dropped the case, while sharply criticizing DOJ’s unusually handled decision. Work-from-Home Law Delayed (Australia): Victoria postponed its two-day right to work from home, extending consultation ahead of the November election. Judicial Independence Under Pressure (Bangladesh): Rights groups condemned a mob attack and courtroom vandalism targeting a judge amid bail-related unrest. Terror-Free Türkiye Framework: Turkey’s parliament passed a 12-article law setting procedures for PKK disarmament and dissolution. Criminal Sentencing (Ohio): Ohio’s Supreme Court upheld a nearly 30-year sentence for a teacher convicted of grooming and threatening victims. Medical Devices Regulation (India): Device industry groups urged India to create a separate medical-device law, saying a pharma-centric bill won’t fit device realities.

Social Media Accountability: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million and treat the platforms as a “public nuisance,” directing major teen-focused changes including limits on usage and notifications, on top of earlier penalties. Platform Liability: The 9th Circuit rejected Meta and other social media firms’ early bid to stop thousands of youth-addiction lawsuits, letting the litigation and a state attorneys general case move toward trial. Federal Courts & Government Power: A federal appeals court ruled Trump can’t rebuild a White House ballroom without Congress approving it first, setting up a fight over presidential authority and historic preservation. Public Health Regulation: A federal court blocked California from disciplining doctors over COVID-19 advice shared with patients, granting a preliminary injunction against state medical boards. Trade Union Rules: Britain’s unions regulator found Unison broke its own rules by allowing a transgender woman to run for a female-only role, after the Equality Act “sex” standard was clarified. Russia Political Space: Russia’s Supreme Court barred the Yabloko party from the parliamentary ballot, further shrinking room for anti-war opposition. Drugs & Access: South Dakota won in federal court against challenges to a 340B-related law aimed at ensuring discounted drugs reach underserved providers. Local Law & Safety: Kansas school zones became “no-phone zones” during posted active hours, with handheld bans and hands-free allowances. Commercial Disputes: Dubai’s commercial court ordered a company to pay a supplier Dhs1.083m plus interest for unpaid goods. Education Policy: The Philippines’ DepEd got flexibility to choose curricular approaches under a new law, moving beyond mandated “spiral progression.”

White House Construction Fight: A divided U.S. appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop building a $400 million White House ballroom, saying Congress hasn’t approved it, with Trump vowing to appeal to the Supreme Court. Election Law (New Zealand): New Zealand’s Electoral Commission urged overseas and domestic voters to register early after reforms removed election-day enrollment; the Oct. 25 deadline is now enforced. Ballot Language Ruling (US): A judge found Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes broke election-law requirements by implying a vote on Prop. 145 would nullify Prop. 212. Access to Justice (US/Immigration): Volunteers warned that many immigrants face deportation without a lawyer, as courts and hearing schedules tighten under the new administration. Legal Aid Expansion (Liberia): Liberia’s Justice Ministry said legal aid funding rose sharply, expanding coverage to more districts under a new policy plan. Corporate/Property Disruption (UK): A luxury apartment project in the UK delayed sales after building-law changes tied to a new building safety regulator. Criminal Procedure (Malaysia): Malaysia’s High Court upheld an acquittal of a blogger over offensive communications charges. Maritime Dispute (China): China’s top court backed mediation of a Strait of Hormuz collision case involving foreign vessels.

U.S. Federal Courts & Politics: A divided D.C. appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop building the $400 million White House ballroom, saying Congress hasn’t approved it; Trump vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court, while preservation concerns also loom. Attorney General Shake-Up: Senate Republicans narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as U.S. attorney general in a 50-49 vote, with Collins and Murkowski dissenting, after a contentious fight over his independence and handling of sensitive DOJ matters. Transnational Crime: Ireland arrested Daniel Kinahan after his extradition from Dubai, with an appearance expected soon before the Special Criminal Court. Due Process & Benefits: A federal judge allowed a Saipan resident’s lawsuit to proceed over alleged failures to provide a fair hearing in calculating food benefits. Human Rights Access to Justice: Nigeria’s courts and rights advocates highlighted how fundamental-rights enforcement rules can speed relief for people facing unlawful detention or rights violations. Corporate/Consumer Litigation: Iowa’s lawsuit against Roblox over child online safety is headed toward trial, with the company pointing to new age and communication controls. Regional Rule of Law: Cambodia’s foreign minister marked ASEAN’s anniversary by stressing peace as a daily choice grounded in restraint, dialogue, and rule of law.

US Justice Department: Senate confirmed Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50–49 vote, with Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposition, keeping the nomination’s politicisation debate front and center. Supreme Court / Medical duty: India’s Supreme Court ordered two Ghaziabad private hospitals to pay compensation after a 4-year-old rape victim died following denial of timely medical care, and signaled new guidelines for hospitals and law enforcement. Contempt risk: South Africa’s Johannesburg High Court ordered Nota Baloyi to file arguments in a contempt case brought by DJ Black Coffee, raising the prospect of jail over refusal to issue a court-ordered apology. Criminal procedure: South Africa’s North West High Court overturned a 12-month socks theft sentence after finding the magistrate had prior knowledge of the accused’s criminal record before deciding guilt. Immigration / rights: A Nigerian lawyer alleged deportees were manacled and shackled on a 30-hour US flight routing detainees across multiple countries before dumping them in Ghana. Regulation / transport: Maharashtra’s bike-taxi plan for delivery platforms faces legal roadblocks because states can’t extend Motor Vehicles Act rules without central amendments. Public safety / courts: Malta reported nearly 500 on-the-spot fines issued to tourists in four weeks since a July legal notice, with public indecency the most common offence. Property law: Zimbabwe’s title-deeds validation and securitisation program continues to spark confusion among property owners, highlighting the legal profession’s role in translating deadlines into real-world obligations.