Attorney Wire Briefing: April 10, 2026
Includes Department of Education Title IX settlement withdrawals, Deere’s right-to-repair settlement, Bannon conviction developments, Kalshi preemption ruling, insurer antitrust litigation, and an NFL antitrust probe.
Good morning — it’s Friday, April 10, 2026.
Here are six key legal developments we’re following.
Estimated read time: 3 minutes
Lead Story
Department of Education Terminates Civil Rights Settlements
What happened: The Department of Education terminated six civil rights settlement agreements involving protections for transgender students. The agreements, entered under Title IX, applied to institutions in California, Delaware, Washington, and Pennsylvania. The withdrawals mark a departure from prior federal enforcement of gender-identity protections.
Why it matters: The move reflects a broader shift in federal civil rights enforcement priorities. By stepping back from prior interpretations of Title IX, the Department is reducing federal oversight and signaling that disputes over gender-identity protections will increasingly be resolved at the state level and through litigation.
Implication: Education lawyers and institutional counsel should reassess campus policies for compliance risk across jurisdictions. Schools may face a more fragmented legal landscape, with increased exposure to state-level claims as plaintiffs test the limits of antidiscrimination laws in the absence of consistent federal enforcement.
Read more: New York Times
The Docket
Deere Reaches $99 Million Settlement in Right-to-Repair Antitrust Lawsuit
Deere & Company reached a $99 million settlement resolving an antitrust lawsuit brought by farmers. The litigation centered on the company’s restrictive repair policies, which forced owners to use authorized dealerships. Under the agreement, Deere will provide financial compensation and expand repair access for independent mechanics.
Why it matters: If approved, the settlement could establish a framework for the right-to-repair movement and increase pressure on manufacturers reliant on restricted servicing ecosystems.
Read more: Associated Press | Brief
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Supreme Court Clears Way for Dismissal of Bannon Conviction
The Supreme Court vacated and remanded an appellate ruling upholding Steve Bannon’s criminal conviction after the Solicitor General filed a brief supporting dismissal. The order clears the path for dismissal of the charges, potentially ending Bannon’s legal battle over his refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena.
Why it matters: The decision raises questions about executive privilege and prosecutorial discretion, particularly the executive branch’s ability to unwind prosecutions tied to congressional oversight.
Read more: Wall Street Journal | Order
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Third Circuit Rules Federal Law Preempts New Jersey from Regulating Kalshi
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that New Jersey regulators cannot apply state gambling laws to block Kalshi from offering sports-related prediction contracts. The decision held that Kalshi’s contracts qualify as “swaps” under the Commodity Exchange Act, preempting state gambling enforcement.
Why it matters: The ruling establishes appellate precedent insulating federally regulated prediction markets from conflicting state gambling enforcement under the doctrine of preemption, potentially accelerating the expansion of event-based trading markets under federal oversight.
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Major Medical Association Joins Antitrust Litigation Against Insurers
The Texas Medical Association, the largest state medical society in the United States, joined federal antitrust litigation against MultiPlan (now Claritev) and insurers, including UnitedHealth, Elevance, and Cigna. The litigation alleges that the companies engaged in a price-fixing scheme to underpay healthcare providers for out-of-network services since 2015.
Why it matters: The involvement of TMA expands the plaintiff pool, increasing litigation risk for insurers tied to reimbursement algorithms and pricing models. A ruling could reshape out-of-network reimbursement and establish liability for underpayments.
Read more: Texas Medical Association | Complaint
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Justice Department Opens Antitrust Investigation into NFL
The Justice Department opened an antitrust investigation into the National Football League. Federal officials are examining whether the league engaged in anticompetitive conduct. The probe appears focused on whether the NFL’s centralized control over media rights and team-level commercial activity, combined with its increasingly fragmented distribution across broadcast and streaming platforms, may be limiting competition and increasing costs for consumers.
Why it matters: The investigation could have broad implications across media rights, labor relations, and commercial partnerships tied to professional sports. It also reflects continued federal scrutiny of dominant organizations and may shape enforcement approaches in complex, multi-sided markets.
Read more: Wall Street Journal
Partner Signal
Aging Partners Control Quarter of Revenue at Most Firms
Partners aged 60 and older control at least 25% of revenue at nearly two-thirds of law firms. This concentration creates financial risk for firms lacking formal protocols to transition client relationships to junior partners.
What We’re Watching
Alternative Business Structures Fueling Law Firm Expansion
The $125 million capital infusion into personal injury firm Rafi Law Services signals growing institutional confidence in law firm alternative business structures. Competitors in deregulated markets will seek outside funding to scale, modernize technology, and capture greater market share in personal injury.
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