Attorney Wire Briefing: June 26, 2026
Supreme Court rulings on Alien Tort Statute liability, TPS terminations, Helms-Burton Act claims, RLUIPA damages, plus DOJ health care fraud charges and Coca-Cola’s $20 billion tax appeal.
Good morning — it’s Friday, June 26, 2026.
Here are six key legal developments we’re following.
Estimated read time: 4 minutes
Lead Story
Supreme Court Bars ATS Aiding-and-Abetting Liability in Cisco Suit
What happened: The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a Ninth Circuit ruling that revived Alien Tort Statute claims against Cisco Systems over alleged surveillance and persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. In a 6-3 decision, the Court held that federal courts may not create new causes of action under the Alien Tort Statute, foreclosing aiding-and-abetting liability. It also held that the Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 does not permit aiding-and-abetting claims against two Cisco executives.
Why it matters: The ruling narrows exposure for U.S. companies facing human rights claims arising from overseas conduct. It removes a central theory plaintiffs used to bring international tort claims in federal court.
Implication: Defense counsel are likely to cite the decision in early motions to dismiss ATS and TVPA aiding-and-abetting claims. Plaintiffs may pursue state-law theories, foreign forums, or claims with a stronger domestic nexus.
The Docket
Supreme Court Bars Judicial Review of TPS Terminations
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Immigration and Nationality Act bars federal courts from reviewing DHS decisions to designate, extend, or terminate Temporary Protected Status. The ruling permits DHS to end protections and work authorization for roughly 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians.
Why it matters: The decision reinforces jurisdiction-stripping limits in federal immigration law. It narrows challenges to DHS procedures, country-conditions assessments, and discriminatory-motive claims tied to TPS terminations.
Read more: New York Times | Opinion
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Supreme Court Revives Exxon Helms-Burton Suit Against Cuban Entities
The U.S. Supreme Court revived Exxon Mobil’s Helms-Burton Act suit against Cuban state-owned companies over assets confiscated from its predecessor’s Cuban subsidiaries in 1960. Reversing the D.C. Circuit, a 6-3 majority held that the statute abrogates sovereign immunity for Cuban agencies and instrumentalities. Exxon seeks more than $1 billion in damages.
Why it matters: The decision lowers the procedural burden for Title III Helms-Burton plaintiffs by removing a separate FSIA hurdle in suits against Cuban state-owned defendants.
Read more: SCOTUSblog
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Supreme Court Bars Individual-Capacity RLUIPA Damages
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that incarcerated plaintiffs may not seek monetary damages from state prison officials in their individual capacities under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. The case involved a Rastafarian inmate whose hair was forcibly shaved despite his religious objections.
Why it matters: The decision forecloses individual-capacity damages under RLUIPA, limiting incarcerated plaintiffs to injunctive relief, entity claims where available, or alternative constitutional theories.
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DOJ Targets Skin-Substitute Kickbacks in $6.5 Billion Fraud Takedown
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 455 defendants in health care fraud schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims. Several cases target kickbacks tied to skin substitutes. Prosecutors allege rebates, referral payments, and shell companies were used to steer utilization and conceal payments from federal health care programs.
Why it matters: The action underscores DOJ scrutiny of vendor-provider arrangements under the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act. The charges highlight compliance risk tied to medical-necessity documentation, rebate disclosures, and referral relationships involving high-reimbursement products.
Read more: New York Times | Indictment
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Eleventh Circuit Hears $20 Billion Coca-Cola Transfer-Pricing Appeal
Coca-Cola asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to reverse a 2020 Tax Court decision upholding IRS transfer-pricing adjustments under I.R.C. § 482. The dispute centers on whether the IRS could reject Coca-Cola’s historical “10-50-50” profit-allocation method and reallocate more income to the U.S. parent. An IRS victory could leave Coca-Cola owing more than $20 billion in taxes and interest while increasing its tax rate going forward.
Why it matters: The appeal tests IRS authority to reject long-standing transfer-pricing methods for multinational IP allocations. A government victory could strengthen the agency’s position in cross-border profit-allocation audits.
Read more: Wall Street Journal | Opinion
Partner Signal
Law Firms Often Omit AI Use From Client Bills
Forty percent of survey respondents said their firms do not disclose attorney AI use on client bills. As outside counsel guidelines address AI, nondisclosure may raise risks involving fee disputes, billing compliance, and ethics.
Bloomberg Law
What We’re Watching
North Carolina Bans Third-Party Litigation Financing
North Carolina enacted the Prohibit Litigation Investments Act, becoming the first state to ban third-party litigation financing. House Bill 315 bars litigation investment in North Carolina civil proceedings and authorizes enforcement by the attorney general and the recovery of treble damages.
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