Legal news, week of November 2, 2026

Monday, November 2, 2026

1. 0115:03 UTC

   Seventh Circuit holds TCPA do-not-call claims do not cover texts

   2 outlets · first: The National Law Review Court decisions

   Machine summary The National Law Review reports that the first federal appellate holding that TCPA Section 227(c)(5) does not cover text messages was in Blackstone Medical Services, 182 F.4th 532. The court applied the 1991 ordinary public meaning of "telephone call" and reasoned the term meant communication by sound, noting the first text message was not sent until 1992. The ruling binds district courts in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, and the report notes district courts in seven other states have dismissed similar claims.

   1. Section 227(c)(5) authorizes suits by individuals who receive "more than one telephone call" within 12 months in violation of Do-Not-Call regulations; the Seventh Circuit applied the ordinary public meaning of "telephone call" in 1991, when Congress enacted the TCPA, and reasoned the term referred to communication by sound.
   2. The report notes the court observed the first text message was not sent until 1992, after the statute's enactment.
   3. Steidinger binds federal district courts in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
   4. The report states that Section 227(c)(5) claims premised on text messages have likewise been dismissed by district courts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, Missouri, and Colorado, as well as Virginia.

   Reported by The National Law Review and National Law Review.

   • Blackstone Medical Services

2. 0218:14 UTC

   Fifth and Second Circuits define 'limited partner' in tax rulings

   2 outlets · first: Foley & Lardner LLP Court decisions

   Machine summary In August 2026, the Fifth Circuit pulled back its Sirius Solutions opinion, replacing it with a substituted opinion in K Alain, L.L.L.P. v. One month later the Second Circuit affirmed the U.S. Tax Court in Soroban Capital Partners LP v. The reports state that litigation on the issue continues.

   1. A Foley & Lardner analysis, as summarized by the National Law Review, reports that the Fifth Circuit, in August 2026, withdrew an earlier opinion in Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P. v. Commissioner, then issued a substituted opinion in the case K Alain, L.L.L.P. v. Commissioner.
   2. The withdrawn Sirius Solutions opinion had determined "limited partner" status using state-law limited partnership status and limited liability, the reports state.
   3. The K Alain substituted opinion held that the original meaning of "limited partner" is "a partner who plays no significant role in managing or running a business," while allowing some lesser involvement absent control over partnership affairs.
   4. According to the reports, the Second Circuit issued a decision in Soroban Capital Partners LP v. Commissioner a month after the Fifth Circuit's ruling, upholding the U.S. Tax Court.
   5. The Second Circuit held that "limited partner" under Section 1402(a)(13) means a partner with limited liability who does not run, manage, or control the partnership's business.

   Reported by National Law Review and Foley & Lardner LLP.

   • Foley & Lardner LLP
   • U.S. Tax Court
   • K Alain, L.L.L.P.
   • Soroban Capital Partners LP
   • Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

5 events. The full rundown for November 3, 2026. The most covered:

1. 18:03 UTC DOJ opinion says FDA can widen supply chain disclosures 2
2. 20:18 UTC EEOC rescinds 2012 guidance on arrest and conviction records in hiring 2
3. 15:49 UTC Irish lawmaker calls for inquiry into Microsoft hosting of permit app 2

What kind of news was it?

1. Court decisions 5
2. Regulation 3