Judge Vargas

Judge Vargas: Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” is Nonactionable Opinion

By Julie Lascano on October 9, 2025

Earlier today, Judge Vargas dismissed Drake’s defamation suit against his recording company of 20 years, UMG Recordings, Inc., stemming from “perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history, the vitriolic war of words that erupted between superstar recording artists Aubrey Drake Graham (‘Drake’) and Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (‘Lamar’ or ‘Kendrick Lamar’) in the spring of 2024.” Drake alleged that UMG intentionally published and promoted Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” which accused Drake of being a pedophile, while knowing the accusations were false and defamatory.

The court held that “Not Like Us” was “nonactionable opinion” and therefore not defamatory. The deciding factor of the analysis was “the overall context in which the assertions were made”:Continue Reading Judge Vargas: Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” is Nonactionable Opinion

Judge Vargas Grants Preliminary Injunction Limiting DOGE Access to U.S. Treasury systems

By Stephanie Sebastian on March 1, 2025

Continue Reading Judge Vargas Grants Preliminary Injunction Limiting DOGE Access to U.S. Treasury systems
Last Friday, Judge Vargas granted a preliminary injunction filed by the Attorneys General of 19 States that restrains the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”) from accessing Treasury Department payment systems. The preliminary injunction substantially tracks the temporary restraining order (“TRO”) that Judge Engelmayer granted on February 9^th, which bars the Treasury Department from granting access to DOGE team members to “any payment record, payment systems, or any other data systems maintained by the Treasury Department containing personally identifiable information and/or confidential financial information of payees.” The Court’s order also provides an opportunity for Defendants to cure the procedural defects related to the protection of sensitive and confidential information, which would then possibly justify termination or modification of the preliminary injunction.

Continue Reading Judge Vargas Grants Preliminary Injunction Limiting DOGE Access to U.S. Treasury systems

Charles MichaelPartner

Charles Michael is an accomplished commercial litigator who resolutely defends clients in high stakes disputes and arbitrations. He is also experienced in regulatory and criminal…

Charles Michael is an accomplished commercial litigator who resolutely defends clients in high stakes disputes and arbitrations. He is also experienced in regulatory and criminal investigations, and represents clients under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Gilana KellerAssociate

Gilana Keller focuses her practice on complex litigation matters with a focus on insurance and reinsurance matters and commercial litigation. Gilana represents companies in insurance…

Gilana Keller focuses her practice on complex litigation matters with a focus on insurance and reinsurance matters and commercial litigation. Gilana represents companies in insurance and reinsurance disputes, pending in state and federal court and before arbitration panels. These disputes have included representation of a leading life insurance carrier in arbitrations against reinsurers involving yearly renewable term (YRT) life reinsurance agreements and environmental insurance coverage.

Julie LascanoAssociate

Julie Wilson Lascano maintains a broad-based commercial litigation practice, representing public and private companies in all stages of litigation before state and federal courts. Her…

Julie Wilson Lascano maintains a broad-based commercial litigation practice, representing public and private companies in all stages of litigation before state and federal courts. Her varied experience includes antitrust, IP, employment, product liability, and civil class action matters, as well as internal investigations and post-investigation compliance. Julie has represented clients across a broad array of industries, including in the financial services, logistics and energy sectors.

Active in her pro bono practice, Julie has represented clients in domestic violence, criminal justice, LGBTQ+, and housing matters, including a successful claim against a landlord that resulted in significant housing repairs for her client. During law school, she also participated in Texas Law’s Environmental Clinic.

Meghan NewcomerOf Counsel

Meghan Newcomer is an accomplished litigator who focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and government and internal investigations. Meghan competently navigates clients through complex commercial disputes in both state and federal court and in arbitration proceedings. She skillfully handles all phases of litigation, from managing broad discovery to drafting dispositive motions, always focused on achieving the best outcome for her clients. On the criminal side, Meghan has substantial trial experience defending individuals in white-collar criminal matters and has participated in multiple criminal trials in federal court. Meghan also has experience representing clients in high-stakes investigations by the US Department of Justice and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

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Judge Vargas

Judge Vargas: Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” is Nonactionable Opinion

Judge Vargas Grants Preliminary Injunction Limiting DOGE Access to U.S. Treasury systems

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