Pump Fun Legal Drama Deepens: Judge Slams Duplicate Filings in High-Stakes Crypto Case

Another day, another crypto courtroom circus—this time with a side of judicial frustration.

Judge calls out 'copy-paste' legal strategy

The Pump Fun case took a sharp turn today as the presiding judge grilled attorneys over identical filings submitted by both sides. 'Are we litigating or playing Mad Libs?' the bench reportedly quipped—a rare moment of humor in a case that could set precedents for token liability.

Why this matters for DeFi

Legal experts whisper this could force projects to actually read their own terms of service (radical concept) before launching the next 'community-driven' token. Meanwhile, traders keep aping in—because nothing says 'sound investment' like a lawsuit with discovery phase memes.

The case continues, but one truth remains: in crypto, even the court documents moon.

TLDR

• Judge Colleen McMahon has questioned why two nearly identical lawsuits were filed against Pump Fun.
• Burwick Law and Wolf Popper filed both lawsuits and target the same defendants with similar allegations.
• The court has asked the firms to explain why the lawsuits cannot be combined into one action.
• Judge McMahon expressed concern about duplicative legal efforts and unnecessary legal costs.
• The judge also asked which of the two complaints should become the operative pleading if the cases are merged.

Federal Judge Colleen McMahon raised concerns over two nearly identical lawsuits filed against Pump Fun by Burwick Law and Wolf Popper. Both suits accuse the memecoin platform of selling unregistered securities and facilitating illicit financial activity. The judge ordered Burwick Law to explain the rationale behind filing similar cases within a short time frame.

Same Defendants and Allegations in Both Complaints

The Carnahan and Aguilar lawsuits name the same defendants: Alon Cohen, Dylan Kerler, and Noah Tweedale, all linked to Pump Fun. They claim Pump Fun sold unregistered securities in the FORM of memecoins and engaged in fraudulent schemes. Despite slight differences in detail, both suits pursue nearly identical legal relief under the 1933 Securities Act.

Judge McMahon emphasized that the cases involve the same law firm and similar timelines, which creates unnecessary duplication. She noted that the Aguilar filing came two weeks after the Carnahan complaint but included more details. However, the Core allegations and legal arguments remain consistent between both actions.

The court is pushing for clarity on whether the two cases can be consolidated to avoid procedural inefficiency. Judge McMahon stated that duplicative litigation could increase costs and create confusion. Therefore, she asked both firms to justify why two complaints and two lead plaintiffs are necessary.

Lead Counsel and Operative Complaint Under Scrutiny

Judge McMahon also questioned the need for two law firms to serve as lead counsel if the lawsuits are consolidated. She requested Burwick Law and Wolf Popper to identify which complaint should become the operative pleading. The court seeks to streamline the case and eliminate overlapping legal efforts.

She made clear that appointing more than one lead counsel in securities class actions is generally discouraged. The objective is to maintain cost efficiency while preserving the integrity of the legal process. Consolidation could potentially simplify the proceedings and reduce duplication of resources.

Burwick Law and Wolf Popper must respond by Friday with a full explanation of their litigation strategy. The court expects clarity on representation roles and complaint structure moving forward. McMahon aims to ensure the case proceeds without legal redundancy.

Pump Fun Expands Legal Team for Defense

Pump Fun’s legal defense, led by Brown Rudnick, has now added experts in cryptocurrency, NFTs, and blockchain litigation. The firm has previously represented figures and entities like Shaquille O’Neal, Atomic Wallet, and Mark Cuban. This team will support Cohen, Kerler, and Tweedale as the case develops.

Pump Fun delayed appointing legal representation initially, nearly missing the response deadline. However, with Brown Rudnick now on board, the defense appears ready to MOVE forward. The firm’s experience in crypto-related cases may influence the court’s approach.