Attorney Wire Briefing: August 28, 2026
Includes the Supreme Court’s mail-voting order, Meta’s $18 billion child-safety settlement, TikTok’s $400 million COPPA settlement, and KKR’s record $250 million HSR penalty.
Good morning – it’s Friday, August 28, 2026.
Here are six key legal developments we’re following.
Estimated read time: 3 minutes
Lead Story
Supreme Court Lifts Injunction Blocking Trump Mail-Voting Order
What happened: The U.S. Supreme Court stayed a Massachusetts injunction blocking parts of President Trump’s mail-voting order, allowing implementation while litigation proceeds. The Court found the states’ claims premature, leaving the legality of specific measures unresolved.
Why it matters: The case tests presidential authority over federal election administration and when states may challenge directives before implementation. Challengers argue the president lacks authority to impose ballot-mail and voter-verification requirements on state elections.
Implication: Litigation now shifts to the USPS rule in Massachusetts. With November elections approaching, courts have limited time to resolve the dispute before early voting begins.
Read more: New York Times | Order
The Docket
Meta Reaches $18 Billion Multistate Settlement Over Child-Safety Claims
Meta reached an $18 billion settlement with 48 states and four other U.S. jurisdictions resolving child-safety claims alleging Facebook and Instagram features encourage compulsive use among minors. The deal requires default screen-time limits and push-notification restrictions for users under 18. Meta will pay 70% regardless, with 30% contingent on TikTok and YouTube accepting comparable restrictions and payments.
Why it matters: The settlement imposes product-design requirements through state enforcement rather than federal legislation. By targeting platform design instead of third-party content, the claims are less directly implicated by Section 230. Similar theories underpin thousands of pending social-media lawsuits.
Read more: Wall Street Journal | Proposed Consent Judgment
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FTC Reaches Settlement With Zillow and Redfin Over Alleged Market Allocation
The FTC settled with Zillow and Redfin over a $100 million agreement under which Redfin exited the internet-listing market for up to nine years. The order requires Redfin to reenter and invest millions in an independent rentals business while allowing its Zillow listing partnership to continue.
Why it matters: The case underscores the antitrust risk when agreements between competitors require one to exit a market or transfer customers. It also underscores scrutiny of licensing and syndication agreements that may restrict horizontal competition.
Read more: Federal Trade Commission | Stipulated Final Order
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TikTok Reaches $400 Million Settlement in COPPA Enforcement Case
TikTok reached a $400 million DOJ settlement over alleged Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act violations involving data from children under 13. TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and $100 million after a prior Musical.ly consent decree is vacated.
Why it matters: The settlement highlights significant exposure for COPPA violations and repeat scrutiny of children’s privacy practices. Digital services face enforcement risk over minors’ data collection and retention, parental consent, and deletion requirements.
Read more: Department of Justice | Order
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Bankruptcy Court Converts First Brands Case to Chapter 7
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez rejected First Brands Group’s Chapter 11 plan and converted the case to Chapter 7. The plan would have deferred payment of at least $222 million in administrative claims while relying on insider litigation to fund recoveries.
Why it matters: The ruling reinforces that administrative claims generally must be paid in cash on a plan’s effective date absent consent. It also shows the confirmation risk when debtors lack sufficient assets and rely on uncertain litigation recoveries to exit Chapter 11.
Read more: Reuters | Motion to Convert or Dismiss
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KKR Agrees to Pay Record $250 Million HSR Penalty
KKR agreed to pay a record $250 million DOJ penalty for alleged HSR Act violations across at least 16 transactions, including altering submitted documents, failing to file required notifications and omitting required documents.
Why it matters: The largest-ever HSR penalty demonstrates the potential exposure from inaccurate or incomplete premerger filings, including missing Item 4 documents. Violations can carry penalties exceeding $50,000 per day, creating substantial liability across multiple transactions.
Read more: Department of Justice
Partner Signal
U.S. Law Firm Revenue Rises 12.4% in First Half of 2026
Large U.S. law firms reported 12.4% average revenue growth, driven by higher rates and 4.8% demand growth. But inventories rose 17.7% and collection cycles slowed 5%, increasing pressure on second-half collections.
Reuters
What We’re Watching
Trial for Accused 9/11 Mastermind Set for June 2028 After Plea Deals Blocked
A military judge set the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants for June 5, 2028, after an appeals court blocked plea deals for three defendants. The judge rejected a January 2027 trial as too soon to resolve pretrial motions, leaving further delays possible.
Reuters
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