Bankruptcy

Wachovia Bank NA, now Wells Fargo Bank NA, has agreed to pay $148 million to settle securities, tax and other federal and state law violations stemming from fraudulently engaging in secret arrangements with bidding agents to win business from municipalities and profits for itself from the reinvestment of muni proceeds.

The potential ouster of the Jefferson County, Ala., sewer system's receiver in connection with the county's bankruptcy case could derail the long-held legal precedent that bonds secured by a specific pledge of revenues will continue to be paid during a Chapter 9 proceeding, according to creditors and industry participants.

A federal court judge in Chicago handed down a 14-year prison sentence to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted in June of corruption charges of using his office to enrich his campaign coffers and to try to profit from his pick to fill the Senate seat of President Obama.

Former JPMorgan banker Douglas MacFaddin and the Securities and Exchange Commission are seeking court sanctions against former Jefferson County commissioner Shelia Smoot for failing to appear for depositions and produce documents on several occasions.

The Inland Valley Development Agency in California disclosed that it and the San Bernardino International Airport Authority are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The future of the Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. in eastern Long Island is in question after a federal judge dismissed its Chapter 9 bankruptcy petition.

In response to Fitch Ratings’ revision of its outlook on O’Hare International Airport’s general airport revenue bonds to negative, Chicago aviation officials said they are confident the airport’s position as a key hub for bankrupt American Airlines will limit any service cuts as the carrier reorganizes.

LOS ANGELES — Downey Regional Medical Center, a non-profit hospital located in greater Los Angeles, is close to reaching an agreement with Avanti Health Systems LLC that would enable it to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy and make its bondholders whole.

CHICAGO — A federal judge in Indiana last week gave final approval to Menasha, Wis.'s $17.5 million settlement with bondholders that resolves litigation over the city's default on $23 million of appropriation-backed notes for its failed steam plant.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on Friday confirmed attorney David Unkovic as receiver for Harrisburg.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Fitch Ratings on Friday revised the outlook to negative on three major U.S. airports in the wake of the Chapter 11 filing by American Airlines and its affiliate, American Eagle.

A judge has granted another extension to the Nassau Off-Track Betting Corp. in its prolonged legal fight with New York harness tracks, OTB officials said.

David Unkovic, whose appointment by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett as the receiver for Harrisburg has come under fire because of his ties to major creditors in the city's financial crisis, appeared before a Commonwealth Court judge on Thursday as part of his confirmation process.

PHILADELPHIA — The Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing procedures that it will use to conduct examinations of independent, non-dealer municipal advisors to see if they are complying with federal laws and rules pertaining to municipal securities, , an SEC official said Thursday.

SAN FRANCISCO — A Washington judge has dismissed a lawsuit that tried to void the state's $519 million bond deal for a floating bridge project.

SAN FRANCISCO — An arena in eastern Washington is headed for a $42 million default Thursday after state lawmakers failed to pass a rescue bill in time during an emergency session.

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority's bond trustee, Bank of New York Mellon, has hired a financial advisor to assist with restructuring the Florida authority's defaulted bonds.

CHICAGO — Blaming a bad housing market and the failure to reach an agreement with bondholders, an Ohio senior-living facility that missed its most recent debt-service payments filed for Chapter 11 protection last week.

In a recent report affirming the Birmingham Airport Authority's A-minus rating, Fitch Ratings said that it would be evaluating the potential effects of surrounding Jefferson County's bankruptcy filing.

CHICAGO — As market participants digested the news of American Airlines' Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy filing Tuesday, airports stressed their ability to withstand any potential impact while tax-exempt investors reached out to bankruptcy attorneys to gauge the strength of their holdings.