12 states seek to block $110bn Paramount-Warner merger

Twelve US states led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a motion on Monday night, July 13, 2026, asking the federal court in San Francisco for a preliminary injunction to stop the $110 billion merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros Discovery, officials said. Equity reaction was pending as of the filing, officials said.

California-led filing in San Francisco

Officials said the motion requests that the court block the transaction from closing while the states pursue legal claims. The filing identifies the two companies involved by name and specifies a preliminary injunction as the immediate relief sought, officials said.

The case brings state attorneys general into a high-value media merger at a late procedural stage. The $110 billion figure cited in the filing positions the deal among the largest recent media combinations and raises the prospect of courtroom delays that could affect shareholder timetables, officials said.

A court scheduling order or hearing is likely within seven days; watch for action by July 20, 2026, when the court may set dates for briefing or oral argument. The states' request puts the immediate focus on whether a judge will pause the closing pending a fuller resolution of the lawsuit.