Case: Legion LegalTech, Corp. v. United States Of America

1:26-cv-02225 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: June 23, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case challenging a government directive to an artificial intelligence (AI) company. Legion LegalTech, Corp. is an AI litigation-technology company that had a contractual license to access and use Anthropic, PBC’s Fable 5 AI model. On June 12, 2026, the federal government ordered Anthropic to immediately disable two of its most capable AI models – Fable 5 and Mythos 5 – for every foreign national on Earth.  On June 23, 2026, Legion filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the …

This is a case challenging a government directive to an artificial intelligence (AI) company.

Legion LegalTech, Corp. is an AI litigation-technology company that had a contractual license to access and use Anthropic, PBC’s Fable 5 AI model. On June 12, 2026, the federal government ordered Anthropic to immediately disable two of its most capable AI models – Fable 5 and Mythos 5 – for every foreign national on Earth. 

On June 23, 2026, Legion filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Legion sued the United States, U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), and other federal departments, agencies, and officials, all named in their official capacities, asserting violations of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and the Berman Informational-Materials Exemption. Legion alleged that the government disrupted its operations, lacked a valid statutory basis for the directive, and created a retaliatory campaign against Anthropic after the company refused to grant the Department of Defense unrestricted access to its AI tools. Legion sought declaratory relief, injunctive relief barring enforcement of the directive, vacatur of the directive, a stay of the directive’s effective date, and attorney’s fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Richard J. Leon.

On June 23, 2026, Legion moved for a preliminary injunction, arguing that it was likely to succeed on the merits, that it would suffer irreparable harm absent injunctive relief, and that the balance of equities and the public interest weighed in its favor. 

On July 3, 2026, Legion voluntarily dismissed the action without prejudice after DOC rescinded its June 12, 2026 directive and Anthropic restored access to its models.

Summary Authors

Alexis Gil (7/10/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73520460/parties/legion-legaltech-corp-v-united-states-of-america/


Judge(s)

Leon, Richard J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ewing, Gregory L. (District of Columbia)

Shutzer, Diana Lyn (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-02225

Complaint For: (1) Ultra Vires - Excess Of Export Control Authority (2) Ultra Vires Under Ieepa / Violation Of The Berman Informational-materials Exemption (3) Apa - Arbitrary And Capricious Agency Action

Legion LegalTech, Corp. v. United States Of America 1:26-cv-02225

June 23, 2026

June 23, 2026

Complaint
3

1:26-cv-02225

Plantiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction

June 23, 2026

June 23, 2026

Pleading / Motion / Brief
7

1:26-cv-02225

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice

July 3, 2026

July 3, 2026

Other

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73520460/legion-legaltech-corp-v-united-states-of-america/

Last updated July 28, 2026, 3:28 p.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 June 23, 2026

COMPLAINT against BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY, DOE DEFENDANTS 1-10, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, JEFFREY KESSLER, HOWARD LUTNICK, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12503748) filed by LEGION LEGALTECH, CORP.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons for USA, # 3 Summons for Commerce, # 4 Summons for Lutnick, # 5 Summons for Bureau of Industry and Security, # 6 Summons for Kessler, # 7 Summons for the Executive Office of the President, # 8 Summons for U.S. Attorney General, # 9 Summons for Pirro)(Shutzer, Diana Lyn) (Entered: 06/23/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Summons for USA

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3 Summons for Commerce

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4 Summons for Lutnick

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5 Summons for Bureau of Industry and Security

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6 Summons for Kessler

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7 Summons for the Executive Office of the President

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8 Summons for U.S. Attorney General

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9 Summons for Pirro

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Clearinghouse
2 June 23, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Gregory L. Ewing on behalf of LEGION LEGALTECH, CORP. (Ewing, Gregory) (Entered: 06/23/2026)

RECAP
3 June 23, 2026

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by LEGION LEGALTECH, CORP.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of A. Rothrock, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Ewing, Gregory) (Entered: 06/23/2026)

1 Declaration of A. Rothrock

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2 Exhibit A

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3 Exhibit B

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4 Exhibit C

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5 Text of Proposed Order

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Clearinghouse
4 June 23, 2026

MOTION to Take Judicial Notice in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction by LEGION LEGALTECH, CORP.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6)(Ewing, Gregory) (Entered: 06/23/2026)

1 Exhibit 1

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2 Exhibit 2

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3 Exhibit 3

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4 Exhibit 4

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5 Exhibit 5

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6 Exhibit 6

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RECAP
5 June 23, 2026

SUMMONS (7) Issued Electronically as to BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, JEFFREY KESSLER, HOWARD LUTNICK, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 06/23/2026)

RECAP
June 23, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

June 23, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Richard J. Leon. (znmw)

6 June 25, 2026

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by LEGION LEGALTECH, CORP. (Shutzer, Diana Lyn) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

RECAP
June 25, 2026

.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines

June 25, 2026

Order

June 25, 2026

MINUTE ORDER. Regarding plaintiff's 3 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, it is hereby ORDERED that defendants shall file a response by July 14, 2026. Plaintiff shall file its reply (if any) by July 21, 2026. The Court will hold a hearing on the motion no earlier than the week of July 27, 2026, with the precise date and time to be determined. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Richard J. Leon on 6/25/2026. (lcrjl1)

July 1, 2026

.Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Hearings

7 July 3, 2026

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal

Clearinghouse
8 July 7, 2026

Leave to File Amicus Brief

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

National Security

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 23, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is an artificial intelligence litigation-technology company.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Bureau of Industry and Security

Executive Office of the President

Head of Bureau of Industry and Security

Head of Commerce

Secretary of Commerce

U.S. Department of Commerce

Under Secretary of Commerce

United States of America

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§1701–1707

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-02225

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Stay of government action

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Access to information systems

Recommended Citation