RPC has hired Michelle Johnston, previously a legal director at Kennedys, as a partner in its professional and financial risk practice in Bristol, the firm announced on October 7, 2026, as reported by CDR News. RPC said Johnston has more than 20 years' experience advising and defending professionals, particularly in claims involving solicitors and barristers, and advises insurers on PI and D&O coverage.
iDealLegal.ai, a bootstrapped startup registered in Wyoming as S&O LEGAL LLC and founded in January 2026 by transactional lawyer Sergey Ovcharov, offers a Word add-in on Microsoft AppSource that runs GPT, Claude and Gemini against lawyer-vetted playbooks and flags model disagreements for human review. In a Legal IT Insider Startup Corner Q&A, the company said it targets firms of 1–20 lawyers and small in-house teams, offers zero data retention on paid plans and has no outside funding.
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate said the Serious Fraud Office has made 'credible progress' on disclosure since its 2024 inspection, but that 'the most significant residual risk concerns the management of legally privileged material.' The Oct. 8 follow-up report found no automatic LPP status reporting for case teams and less well-defined ownership of the LPP model, and recommended monthly LPP status updates by October 2027.
Switalskis Group has acquired Calculus Legal Costs Holdings Ltd, a Southport specialist costs adviser to personal injury and clinical negligence firms founded in 2003. Calculus will keep its name, operate as a separate entity, and retain founder John Hayes as a director. Insider Media reported that Switalskis employs 395 people across 11 offices.
Colorado's Secretary of State adopted amended Election Rules (8 CCR 1505-1) on Oct. 9, 2026. Under rules effective immediately, a county clerk who transfers election records under a court order must give the order to the Secretary, notify the Secretary immediately and inventory the transferred items. Official observers must hold a Secretary-issued letter of authority, and clerks must admit them. Clerks must also file election plans 120 days before each election.
Under Executive Order 2026-07, Gov. Brad Little directed the Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Department to stop initiating discretionary dyed-fuel inspections under Idaho Code 49-676 for 30 days, the governor's office said. The two agencies must review inspection policy and send recommendations to the governor. The order does not exempt drivers from federal law, other states' laws or warranty terms.
Under Executive Order 01.01.2026.19 (Oct. 9, 2026), Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency over diesel prices. Vehicles hauling agricultural or forestry loads may use dyed diesel on public roads without state citations or fines, and fees for 30-day Exceptional Hauling Permits are waived on non-interstate state highways. Federal fuel tax and penalties still apply, and the Comptroller is asked to seek relief from the IRS.
Michigan enacted Senate Bill 102 as 2026 Public Act 112 on October 9, 2026, amending section 1 of 1895 Public Act 161. The act adds subsections (6) to (9) to MCL 48.101 for electronic copies of county treasurer records. A treasurer charges at most 30 cents per parcel record, capped at $2,000 per request, and transmits records electronically in a delimited, open-standards format.
Michigan enacted the Motor Vehicle Dealer Data Collection Act as Public Act 113 of 2026 on October 9, 2026, with immediate effect. The act bars manufacturers and third parties from requiring dealer-system access or using protected dealer data without prior express written consent, limits charges to disclosed actual costs, and requires dealer data vendors to offer standardized open integration and 90-day contract termination.
Michigan enacted Public Act 114 of 2026 on October 9, 2026, amending the Public Health Code sections on psychologist licensing. The act revises licensure requirements for limited license psychologists, including supervised postgraduate experience, allows limited licensees to practice without supervision within their qualifications, and changes Michigan Board of Psychology membership. The Michigan Psychological Association states practice changes await Board of Psychology regulations.
Under Executive Order 26-20 (Oct. 9, 2026), Gov. Mike Kehoe suspended enforcement of Missouri's on-highway dyed-diesel ban (RSMo 142.932) and its penalties for any purpose. No state agency or officer may assess penalties under that section. The order replaces EO 26-19 and keeps a 90,000-pound limit for qualifying farm loads on non-interstate roads. It ends Dec. 31, 2026 unless extended.
Session Law 2026-62 (HB 3), signed Oct. 9, 2026, sets North Carolina's motor fuel excise tax to zero from Oct. 10 through Nov. 30, 2026. Fuel cost may not include the suspended tax. Through Dec. 31, the Revenue Secretary may not penalize farm use of dyed diesel in highway vehicles. The State Controller must make monthly hold-harmless transfers from the Stabilization and Inflation Reserve; forgone revenue is estimated at $362.3 million, Brooks Pierce reported.
On October 9, 2026, Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added the International Criminal Court itself to the Specially Designated Nationals list under Executive Order 14203, blocking the court's property in U.S. jurisdiction and barring U.S. persons from dealing with it without a license. OFAC issued four general licenses, including General License 13, which authorizes transactions to maintain or wind down court operations through April 7, 2027. The ICC rejected the sanctions the same day.
On October 9, 2026, Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued Russia-related General License 135, authorizing transactions otherwise prohibited by the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations and the Ukraine-/Russia-Related Sanctions Regulations that relate to the sale, delivery, offloading or importation of Russian-origin diesel fuel, including into the United States. The authorization runs through 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 7, 2027, and excludes debits to U.S. accounts of Russia's central bank, National Wealth Fund or Ministry of Finance.