USA v. Alex Ruiz - Criminal Conviction Affirmed

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Alex Ruiz's conviction for transporting illegal aliens. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence of a prior conviction for the same crime under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) and that Ruiz's constitutional arguments were forfeited.

Ratha v. Rubicon Resources LLC - Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act Retroactivity

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's denial of a motion for relief from summary judgment in a human trafficking case. The court held that an amendment to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, clarifying civil liability for attempted benefit from human trafficking, has retroactive effect.

Competition Bureau Expands Real Estate Commission Rules Investigation

The Competition Bureau has expanded its investigation into real estate commission rules to include Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), seeking a court order to gather information. The probe examines whether GVR and the Canadian Real Estate Association's commission rules violate the Competition Act by potentially discouraging competition or leading to higher costs for buyers and sellers.

California AG Reviews Warner Bros. Mergers for Antitrust Concerns

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a statement reviewing proposed mergers involving Warner Bros., Paramount, and Netflix for potential antitrust concerns. The review focuses on market concentration, competition, worker impact, and creative diversity within the media and entertainment industry.

US Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled President Trump's imposition of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) illegal. California Attorney General Rob Bonta celebrated the decision, which is expected to restore order to markets and potentially lead to the return of funds to harmed parties. The tariffs were projected to cost California's economy $25 billion and over 64,000 jobs.

Texas AG Sues Shein for Toxic Products and Data Exposure

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued global fast-fashion retailer Shein for allegedly selling toxic products and exposing consumer data to the Chinese Communist Party. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, or $250,000 for violations targeting elderly consumers.

Texas AG Sues Company Over Chest Binders Sold to Minors

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Lola Olivia, Inc., an online retailer, for allegedly selling chest binders to young girls without disclosing significant health risks. The lawsuit seeks over $1,000,000 in monetary relief, including civil penalties, and injunctive relief.

Texas AG Sues Sanofi for Illegal Kickbacks to Doctors

The Texas Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC for allegedly providing illegal kickbacks to healthcare providers through "Free Nurse Program" and "Support Services Program." The state is seeking over $1,000,000 in monetary relief and an injunction.

Garante Privacy Sanctions eCampus, Rejects Pescara Body Cams

The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante Privacy) has sanctioned the University eCampus with a €50,000 fine for unlawfully processing biometric data using facial recognition for online course attendance verification. Additionally, the Garante has prohibited the municipality of Pescara from using body cameras for local police due to risks of data transfer to non-EU countries.

EU Official Journal L Series Daily View - February 20, 2026

The EU Official Journal L series published several regulations on February 20, 2026. These include amendments to regulations concerning statistical information collection by the European Central Bank, emissions type-approval for heavy-duty vehicles, and import registration for sodium benzoate from China.