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Brown et al v. Trove Brands - Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice

Plaintiffs Zoey Brown and La'Shan Powell filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice in Brown et al v. Trove Brands, LLC (Case No. 3:26-cv-01774-VC) on April 22, 2026. The case was originally filed on March 2, 2026, before Judge Vince Chhabria in the Northern District of California. A voluntary dismissal without prejudice allows plaintiffs to potentially refile the same claim against Trove Brands, LLC at a later date.

Gayon Sampson Appointed Maryland Comptroller Chief of Staff

Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman announced the appointment of Gayon M. Sampson as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland. Sampson will begin the role on June 10, 2026, succeeding Rianna Matthews-Brown, who served as Chief of Staff since the start of Comptroller Lierman's administration and will depart at the end of April. Sampson joins from the City of Frederick, where he served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor and helped secure nearly $100 million in federal, state, and local funding for infrastructure, housing, and community development projects.

Brown v. Salcido - Ninth Circuit Denies Intervention Motion

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to intervene filed by 185 Google Chrome users (the Salcido plaintiffs) seeking to appeal the denial of class certification for damages in a lawsuit alleging Google improperly collected Incognito mode user data. The court applied a three-factor timeliness test for intervention motions and held that all factors weighed against intervention: the stage of proceedings was unfavorable, intervening would prejudice Google and the named plaintiffs by likely unraveling the existing settlement, and the three-month delay lacked justification. The ruling reinforces that intervention motions filed near the end of class settlements face a high bar.

Telmisartan Patent for Canine Hypertension Treatment

USPTO granted Patent US12605366B2 to inventors Anne Michelle Traas, Amanda Erickson Coleman, Bianca Natália Ferreira De Moura Lourenco, Kate Elizabeth Creevy, and Scott Alan Brown for telmisartan use in treating hypertension in dogs. The patent covers administration of telmisartan in variable daily dosages over a treatment period. Patent holders gain enforceable exclusivity rights.

DEC Marks 22nd Year of Brownfield Cleanup, 64 New Sites

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced results for the 22nd year of the Brownfield Cleanup Program. In 2025, DEC accepted 64 new sites into the program and issued 43 Certificates of Completion to cleaned sites statewide. Twenty of the 43 completed sites are planned for the creation of thousands of affordable housing units. Since 2003, DEC has approved over 1,453 BCP applications and issued approximately 757 Certificates of Completion.

United States v. Brown - Supervised Release Computer Monitoring Condition

The Second Circuit affirmed Mark Brown’s conviction and sentence for fourteen counts of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims under 18 U.S.C. § 287 and one count of theft of government funds under 18 U.S.C. § 641. Brown received 46 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, plus $136,672.75 in forfeiture. On appeal, Brown challenged a special condition permitting probation officers to monitor all activity on internet-accessible devices and conduct unannounced device examinations without reasonable suspicion, arguing it was overbroad and constituted an impermissible occupational restriction. The Second Circuit rejected both arguments, holding that district courts have broad discretion to impose supervised release conditions and that monitoring work devices does not constitute an occupational restriction under U.S.S.G. § 5F1.5.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Decisions and Case Listings

The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board published a comprehensive listing of attorney disciplinary decisions organized into four sections: Supreme Court Orders, Formal Hearing Committee Decisions, Board Panel Decisions, and Hearing Committee Reports, spanning decisions from December 2024 through April 2026. The page includes case docket numbers (e.g., 2026-B-0445, 24-DB-026, 25-DB-031) and citations to the Southern Reporter (So.3d) for applicable decisions. No new regulatory obligations or policy changes are described; the document serves as a public record of completed disciplinary proceedings.

AG Brown Leads 22-State Coalition Securing Federal Court Order Blocking Healthcare Threats

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, alongside the Attorneys General of Oregon and New York, led a coalition of 22 states that secured a federal court order permanently blocking an attempt by the Trump administration to threaten healthcare providers for treating youth with gender dysphoria. The court issued its opinion and judgment on April 20, 2026, resulting in a permanent injunction against the federal action. Healthcare providers offering gender-affirming care to youth in the 22 participating states may continue operations without federal coercion, though similar legal challenges may continue in other jurisdictions.

In Memoriam: Associate Justice Howard B. Wiener

Former Associate Justice Howard B. Wiener of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One, passed away on March 20, 2026, at age 95. Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. appointed him to the San Bernardino County Superior Court on July 25, 1975, and elevated him to the Court of Appeal in May 1978, where he served until his retirement on December 31, 1993. Justice Wiener practiced law for 20 years, served on multiple bar association boards, taught at two law schools, and authored a civil practice guide before engaging in private dispute resolution in over 1,700 cases.

David E. Brown Appointed Director of Virginia Department of Health Professions

Governor Abigail Spanberger appointed David E. Brown, D.C. as Director of the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Dr. Brown returns to DHP after two previous terms as Director, serving under former Governors Ralph Northam and Terry McAuliffe. He is a Virginia native and former Charlottesville mayor with a healthcare career dating back to 1982, including service on the Virginia Board of Medicine and Virginia Healthcare Workforce Development Authority.

Pan-Caribbean Brown Sugar Recalled for Metal Fragments

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a public advisory dated 21 April 2026 regarding a recall of Pan-Caribbean Brown Sugar manufactured by Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company Limited in Jamaica, due to contamination with small metal fragments. The product, sold in 1lb, 2lb, and 4lb packages, is being withdrawn from the food supply in coordination with importers, wholesalers, and retailers. DEH is advising consumers to avoid consuming the product and to either dispose of small quantities in regular garbage or return packages to the point of purchase.

Fernando Brown Convicted at Trial for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession

Fernando Brown, also known as "Nino," 33, of Columbus, Georgia, was convicted by a federal jury of distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana while armed, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. A total of 30 defendants have now either been convicted at trial or pleaded guilty as part of Operation Sweet Silence, a multi-agency law enforcement effort in and around Columbus, Georgia, as part of Operation Take Back America. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2026, with a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Maryland AG Sues DC Water Over Potomac Interceptor Sewage Spill

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and the Maryland Department of the Environment filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court against DC Water for violations of state water pollution laws stemming from a January 2026 rupture of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line that discharged an estimated 240 million gallons of raw sewage over eight days. The complaint seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each violation, reimbursement for all environmental testing and cleanup costs, natural resource damages, and a court order permanently prohibiting future unauthorized discharges.

United States v. Lewis-Langston - ACCA Enhancement Harmless Error

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a defendant's 200-month ACCA-enhanced sentence for felon-in-possession of a firearm, finding that the district court erred under Erlinger v. United States by deciding at sentencing whether the defendant's three prior violent felonies were committed on different occasions. The court held this error was harmless because the defendant received adequate notice of potential ACCA exposure in his plea agreement and plea colloquy, did not seek to withdraw his guilty plea, and did not meaningfully contest the accuracy of his presentence report establishing the predicate offenses occurred on different dates. The court applied the harmless-error framework from United States v. Brown, 136 F.4th 87 (4th Cir. 2024), finding the evidence supporting the different-occasions finding was exceptionally strong.

Kemp Appoints Four Judges and District Attorney to Georgia Courts

Governor Brian P. Kemp of Georgia announced the appointment of four individuals to judicial and prosecutorial positions across the state on April 17, 2026. Tyler J. Browning was appointed to the Superior Court of the Cobb Judicial Circuit and Matthew M. McCord to the Superior Court of the Griffin Judicial Circuit, filling vacancies created by prior resignations. Dorothy V. Hull was appointed District Attorney for the Towaliga Judicial Circuit and John D. Harvey was appointed Solicitor General of the State Court of Bryan County, each filling separate vacancies. All four appointees bring significant legal experience to their respective roles.

HB26-1352 Shifts READ Act Independent Evaluations to Biennial Cycle

HB26-1352 amends the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act) to change the frequency of independent evaluations of READ Act spending from an annual to a biennial requirement. Local education providers must continue reporting READ Act student data to the Colorado Department of Education annually, and CDE must now issue an annual summary report incorporating that data plus department input on proposed program changes. The bill reduces the state appropriation for early literacy program external evaluation for the 2026-27 state fiscal year.

GP Stakes Decoded – Part One: Strategic Case for GP Stake Transactions

Mayer Brown attorneys Joseph Castelluccio, Jonathan Dhanawade, Don Irwin, and Tram Nguyen published Part One of a three-part series analyzing General Partner (GP) stake transactions in private equity and alternative investment markets. The article examines the strategic motivations for both GP sponsors and institutional investors engaging in these transactions, the complexity of defining the underlying asset (which typically encompasses multiple entity layers including GP entities, management companies, and carried interest recipients), and the valuation challenges that combine quantitative metrics with negotiating dynamics. The piece identifies key tension points including sponsor desire for certainty versus investor preference for earn-outs, and signals that Parts Two and Three will address structural governance and relational dynamics respectively.

REVERSEinquiries Newsletter, Volume 7, Issue 2 - Structured and Market-Linked Products

Mayer Brown's REVERSEinquiries newsletter, Volume 7, Issue 2, covers structured and market-linked product regulatory developments. Key items include a FINRA member settlement for Regulation S compliance procedures, a FINRA proposed amendment to Rule 2210 to permit the use of projections in communications, a Second Circuit dismissal of ETN reverse stock split litigation, and monitoring program issuance limits. This is a law firm advisory publication summarizing multiple regulatory topics — not a regulatory action itself.

GP Stakes Decoded: A Dual-Lens Guide for Sponsors and Investors

Mayer Brown has published a three-part series analyzing GP (General Partner) stake transactions in alternative asset management, covering strategic rationale, valuation, structure, governance, and relationship management. The series provides parallel perspectives for sponsors seeking liquidity or growth capital and investors evaluating minority stakes in private equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and secondaries managers. Key topics include founder liquidity, control allocation, economic alignment, clawback liability, and investor disclosure obligations.

Court Issues Opinion and Judgment in AG Brown Youth Gender-Affirming Care Case

The Washington State Attorney General's office posted a news release on April 20, 2026, announcing that a court issued an opinion and judgment in the AG Brown case involving youth gender-affirming care. The news release title references protection of youth gender-affirming care under AG Brown.

Controlled Cold Exposure Combined With PD-1/PD-L1 Immunotherapy in Solid Tumors (NIVALIS)

NIH ClinicalTrials.gov has registered a single-arm, open-label Phase I exploratory study (NCT07538479) evaluating controlled cold exposure combined with standard PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-based therapy in 24 participants with solid malignancies. The primary objectives are to evaluate safety, tolerability, and feasibility of the cold exposure intervention. Secondary objectives include exploring preliminary antitumor activity and effects on brown adipose tissue activation, peripheral immune profiling, circulating cytokines, metabolomics, gut microbiota, and tumor biomarkers.

African Descent Reparations Commission Public Hearing - Chicago

The Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission (ADCRC) will hold a public hearing on April 25, 2026, at the DuSable Black History Museum in Chicago. The hearing will discuss the Commission's 'Taking Account harms' report documenting economic, social, mental, and physical harms from slavery's legacy affecting Black Illinoisans. Featured speakers include Clayola Brown, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Brooks, Dr. William A. Darity Jr., and A. Kirsten Mullen. The event includes a public remarks segment for Illinois residents to share insights and experiences.

AG Brown Wins Lawsuit Protecting Gender-Affirming Care

A federal district court granted summary judgment to Maryland Attorney General Brown and a coalition of 22 states, permanently enjoining a December 2025 HHS declaration that sought to classify certain gender-affirming care for youth as 'unsafe and ineffective' and threatened to exclude providers from Medicare and Medicaid programs. The court agreed with the states that Secretary Kennedy lacked legal authority to issue the declaration and that HHS failed to follow required notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures.

Biodiversity Net Gain Exemption for Brownfield Residential Development

DEFRA is consulting on a potential exemption from biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements for certain residential developments on brownfield land in England. The consultation seeks views on whether an exemption should be introduced, what size thresholds should apply, and how brownfield residential development should be defined. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 10 June 2026.

Impact&Places JV Acquires Ferrous Site, 2,250 Homes Planned

Impact&Places Partnership (joint venture between Homes England, Capital&Centric, and Swiss Life Asset Managers) has acquired the Ferrous neighbourhood development site in Manchester. The partnership is backed by an £860 million investment commitment over the next decade targeting residential-led regeneration. The acquisition will deliver 107 rental apartments initially, contributing to a planned total of 2,250 homes across the UK. First completions are expected mid-to-late 2028.

Omarion Brown v. The State of Texas - Appeal Dismissed, Waived Rights

The Texas Court of Appeals, 1st District dismissed criminal defendant Omarion Brown’s appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Brown had pleaded guilty to theft from person (3 cases) and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon (2 cases), waiving his right to appeal as part of plea agreements with the State. The court found the waiver valid under Texas law, applied the Carson v. State standard requiring waivers to be voluntary, knowing, and intelligent, and dismissed the appeal.

Auto Repair Owner Sentenced for Tax Theft

A Washington state auto repair business owner, Marlo Brown, has been sentenced to six months in jail for tax theft and filing a false tax return. She pleaded guilty to pocketing sales tax collected over four years and was ordered, along with her co-owner husband Phillip Brown, to pay back $36,875 to the state.