Criminal Law

A federal court in Illinois has ruled that violations of the DOJ's Bulk Sensitive Data rule can serve as the predicate tort to overcome the Electronic Communications Privacy Act's one-party consent defense. This decision creates new litigation exposure for digital advertising platforms and data brokers that transfer sensitive personal data to entities in countries of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.

Given the rarity of the Child Victims Act cases being tried, it is important to take note of the few that see their way to a jury verdict. Readers can compare two recent cases: T.F. v. Clarkstown Central School District, 032990/2021 (Sup. Ct., Rockland Co. 2021), in which the jury returned a defense verdict, and A.P. v. City of New York, 512233/2021 (Sup. Ct., Kings Co. 2020)...

In a first-of-its-kind pleading-stage decision, a federal district court in Baker v. Index Exch. Inc., No. 25 C 10517 (N.D. Ill. June 16, 2026), denied a motion to dismiss a putative class action alleging that supply-side platform (“SSP”) Index Exchange Inc. and its affiliate Index Exchange USA, LLC violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2511 (the “Federal Wiretap Act”), in connection with alleged data transfers to a Chinese e-commerce platform.

A former DraftKings sportsbook trader faces felony charges in Nevada for allegedly orchestrating a betting scheme involving a college basketball player who intentionally underperformed to profit from manipulated proposition wagers. The case reveals how integrity risks in sports betting can originate from industry insiders with specialized knowledge and access, raising questions about regulatory oversight and internal controls at gaming operators.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General has issued a request for information seeking public input on whether new safe harbors under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or exceptions to the Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalties law are needed for remuneration provided to clinical trial participants. This initiative arrives as part of HHS' broader clinical research reform agenda, including Operation TrialBlazer, which aims to improve patient access and engagement

The SEC and CFTC have fundamentally shifted their enforcement approach in 2026, moving away from high-volume technical violations toward targeted actions addressing serious fraud and market manipulation. This mid-year update examines new leadership priorities, enhanced inter-agency coordination, revised cooperation policies, the elimination of "no-deny" settlement provisions, and a landmark Supreme Court ruling on disgorgement that collectively reshape the regulatory landscape for market participants.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has indicted six individuals and two companies in a $76 million fraud case involving Silver Birch, marking a significant shift in white-collar crime enforcement as federal authorities appear to be stepping back from such prosecutions. This case raises critical questions about whether state prosecutors will fill the enforcement gap left by the Department of Justice's changing priorities under the current administration.

The Department of Justice’s Criminal Division launched a powerful new tool in August 2024 with its Corporate Whistleblower Award (CWA) Pilot Program. This was a major move that filled gaps in existing whistleblower award programs, boosted corporate investigations and prosecutions, and opened the door to more monetary awards for whistleblowers.

The U.S. Department of Justice is expanding its health care fraud enforcement capabilities through a data-driven approach, with two key units leading the charge. DOJ officials revealed how analytics and real-time monitoring are reshaping federal prosecutions, targeting corporate actors and individual executives with unprecedented coordination. What does this mean for health care providers who may become statistical outliers in the government's surveillance systems?

On June 15, 2026, the Supreme Court denied certiorari in National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. v. Letitia James, leaving in place the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s decision upholding New York’s...

Dozens of college and university campuses experienced protests in April and May of 2024 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Many were peaceful, but some turned violent...

Ben Cohen charged with "unlawful entry" whilst protesting against the prosecution of Julian Assange.