Todd Blanche faces malpractice allegations

Published May 27, 2026 by The Daily Scout

- On May 27, 2026, reports said acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is fighting a malpractice lawsuit brought by former clients Adam and Daniel Kaplan. - The lawsuit centers on allegations Blanche forged signatures on an engagement letter and overbilled the Kaplans, who say they paid about $1.65 million. - The case remains pending in New York state court, where Cadwalader and Blanche have also pursued claims over unpaid fees.

Why it matters

Todd Blanche, who the Justice Department says is serving as acting U.S. attorney general while also holding the deputy attorney general post, is facing renewed scrutiny over a private-practice lawsuit brought by two former clients. The case, filed in New York state court in June 2023, accuses Blanche and his former law firm, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, of malpractice, overbilling and forgery in work performed for twin brothers Adam and Daniel Kaplan. Blanche’s current role gives the dispute added visibility, but the allegations remain civil claims that have not been adjudicated. ### Who are the former clients making the allegations? Adam Kaplan and Daniel Kaplan are New York financial advisers who, according to recent accounts of the lawsuit, hired Blanche through Cadwalader as they faced fraud-related scrutiny from prosecutors and regulators. The New Republic, citing Vanity Fair’s reporting on the court fight, said the brothers sought Blanche’s help through Cadwalader in 2021. (justice.gov) The June 12, 2023 complaint identified the plaintiffs as Adam S. Kaplan and Daniel E. Kaplan and named Cadwalader and Blanche as defendants in Nassau County Supreme Court. Law.com’s case entry lists the suit as a professional-malpractice action. ### What do the Kaplans say Blanche did? The Kaplans allege Blanche promised they would not be billed at standard Cadwalader rates and then sent unexpectedly large invoices after taking on their matter. (newrepublic.com) Raw Story, citing Vanity Fair’s account of the complaint and related filings, reported that Cadwalader’s first bill arrived in June 2022 for $677,925.32 and that the brothers say they had paid roughly $1.65 million by November 2022. (law.com) The most serious allegation is that Blanche forged their signatures on an engagement letter. The New Republic said the yearlong court fight includes claims of malpractice and forgery, and Raw Story separately described the case as alleging forged signatures and dramatic overbilling. Those reports attribute the details to court filings and Vanity Fair’s review of them. (rawstory.com) ### What have Blanche and Cadwalader said in response? Cadwalader and Blanche have not been found liable, and the dispute has expanded into a fight over fees. ABA Journal reported in 2023 that the firm and Blanche denied the malpractice claims and that the former clients were seeking a refund of $1.65 million. Later reporting on the case said Cadwalader countersued, seeking more than $1.2 million in unpaid legal fees plus interest. (newrepublic.com) The court filings described in those reports frame the dispute as both a malpractice case and a billing battle. That means the public record, at least from available reporting, includes allegations by the Kaplans and fee claims by the defense side rather than any final determination on the merits. ### Why is the case getting attention now? (abajournal.com) The Justice Department’s official biography says Blanche is the acting attorney general of the United States and the 40th deputy attorney general, overseeing more than 100,000 employees across the department and its law-enforcement components. That makes an old private-practice case newly relevant because Blanche now sits near the top of the federal law-enforcement hierarchy. (abajournal.com) Recent coverage from Raw Story and The New Republic surfaced the lawsuit again after Blanche took on the acting attorney general role. Both outlets described the allegations as unresolved and tied the renewed attention to Blanche’s prominence in the Trump administration. ### What is the procedural posture from here? The New York case is still described in recent coverage as ongoing, and public case trackers show filings continuing well after the original June 2023 complaint. (justice.gov) Trellis notes activity in the Kaplan case as recently as 2025, indicating the matter has not simply disappeared from the docket. (rawstory.com) Any next concrete development is likely to come from the Nassau County court docket, where rulings on the malpractice claims, the forgery allegations or the fee counterclaims would appear first. Until then, the claims against Blanche remain allegations in civil litigation, not judicial findings. (law.com) (trellis.law)

Key numbers

On May 27, 2026, reports said acting U.S.
The lawsuit centers on allegations Blanche forged signatures on an engagement letter and overbilled the Kaplans, who say they paid about $1.65 million.
The case, filed in New York state court in June 2023, accuses Blanche and his former law firm, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, of malpractice, overbilling and forgery in work performed for twin brothers Adam and Daniel Kaplan.
The New Republic, citing Vanity Fair’s reporting on the court fight, said the brothers sought Blanche’s help through Cadwalader in 2021.

What happens next

(rawstory.com) Any next concrete development is likely to come from the Nassau County court docket, where rulings on the malpractice claims, the forgery allegations or the fee counterclaims would appear first.
(law.com) (trellis.law) - On May 27, 2026, reports said acting U.S.

Sources

Quick answers

What happened in Todd Blanche faces malpractice allegations?

On May 27, 2026, reports said acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is fighting a malpractice lawsuit brought by former clients Adam and Daniel Kaplan. The lawsuit centers on allegations Blanche forged signatures on an engagement letter and overbilled the Kaplans, who say they paid about $1.65 million. The case remains pending in New York state court, where Cadwalader and Blanche have also pursued claims over unpaid fees.

Why does Todd Blanche faces malpractice allegations matter?

Todd Blanche, who the Justice Department says is serving as acting U.S. attorney general while also holding the deputy attorney general post, is facing renewed scrutiny over a private-practice lawsuit brought by two former clients. The case, filed in New York state court in June 2023, accuses Blanche and his former law firm, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, of malpractice, overbilling and forgery in work performed for twin brothers Adam and Daniel Kaplan. Blanche’s current role gives the dispute added visibility, but the allegations remain civil claims that have not been adjudicated. Who are the former clients making the allegations? Adam Kaplan and Daniel Kaplan are New York financial advisers who, according to recent accounts of the lawsuit, hired Blanche through Cadwalader as they faced fraud-related scrutiny from prosecutors and regulators. The New Republic, citing Vanity Fair’s reporting on the court fight, said the brothers sought Blanche’s help through Cadwalader in 2021. (justice.gov) The June 12, 2023 complaint identified the plaintiffs as Adam S. Kaplan and Daniel E. Kaplan and named Cadwalader and Blanche as defendants in Nassau County Supreme Court. Law.com’s case entry lists the suit as a professional-malpractice action. What do the Kaplans say Blanche did? The Kaplans allege Blanche promised they would not be billed at standard Cadwalader rates and then sent unexpectedly large invoices after taking on their matter. (newrepublic.com) Raw Story, citing Vanity Fair’s account of the complaint and related filings, reported that Cadwalader’s first bill arrived in June 2022 for $677,925.32 and that the brothers say they had paid roughly $1.65 million by November 2022. (law.com) The most serious allegation is that Blanche forged their signatures on an engagement letter. The New Republic said the yearlong court fight includes claims of malpractice and forgery, and Raw Story separately described the case as alleging forged signatures and dramatic overbilling. Those reports attribute the details to court filings and Vanity Fair’s review of them. (rawstory.com) What have Blanche and Cadwalader said in response? Cadwalader and Blanche have not been found liable, and the dispute has expanded into a fight over fees. ABA Journal reported in 2023 that the firm and Blanche denied the malpractice claims and that the former clients were seeking a refund of $1.65 million. Later reporting on the case said Cadwalader countersued, seeking more than $1.2 million in unpaid legal fees plus interest. (newrepublic.com) The court filings described in those reports frame the dispute as both a malpractice case and a billing battle. That means the public record, at least from available reporting, includes allegations by the Kaplans and fee claims by the defense side rather than any final determination on the merits. Why is the case getting attention now? (abajournal.com) The Justice Department’s official biography says Blanche is the acting attorney general of the United States and the 40th deputy attorney general, overseeing more than 100,000 employees across the department and its law-enforcement components. That makes an old private-practice case newly relevant because Blanche now sits near the top of the federal law-enforcement hierarchy. (abajournal.com) Recent coverage from Raw Story and The New Republic surfaced the lawsuit again after Blanche took on the acting attorney general role. Both outlets described the allegations as unresolved and tied the renewed attention to Blanche’s prominence in the Trump administration. What is the procedural posture from here? The New York case is still described in recent coverage as ongoing, and public case trackers show filings continuing well after the original June 2023 complaint. (justice.gov) Trellis notes activity in the Kaplan case as recently as 2025, indicating the matter has not simply disappeared from the docket. (rawstory.com) Any next concrete development is likely to come from the Nassau County court docket, where rulings on the malpractice claims, the forgery allegations or the fee counterclaims would appear first. Until then, the claims against Blanche remain allegations in civil litigation, not judicial findings. (law.com) (trellis.law)