Law and legal issues

A district court lawsuit challenging the legality of the District of Columbia’s Local Budget Autonomy Act and D.C.’s push for budget autonomy was reassigned to a new judge last month.

A California state appeals court ruling may open the window for governments to change the future benefits of existing employees.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals delayed oral arguments in Jefferson County, Ala.'s bankruptcy appeal until November, and now plans to hear the case in Montgomery, instead of Atlanta.

Lawsuits by two Florida counties challenging the $1.75 billion private activity bond award for the All Aboard Florida passenger train project can proceed, after a federal judge ruled in the counties' favor.

Puerto Rico business groups announced Wednesday that they would sue to block the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority restructuring deal.

Bondholders' poor recovery relative to pensioners in Detroit was typical of municipal bankruptcies, as protecting the workforce has outweighed debt repayment in courtrooms across the nation.

Detroit-based law firm Clark Hill is expanding its public finance reach in Michigan with the acquisition of competitor Axe & Ecklund.

An attorney in California contends that the state treasurer erred by not allowing public comment prior to rolling out an anti-pay-to-play initiative.

A two-month campaign to sell Atlantic City's former airport property to help pay down the city's massive debt burden yielded two bids that came in at a third of the minimum asking price.

Lenders will own the private operator of State Highway 130 near Austin under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan filed last week.

The receiver for bond-financed apartments owned by Global Ministries Foundation in Tennessee has disclosed in court filings that the Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting an investigation.

Merrett Stierheim, a former south Florida public administrator, will determine if Opa-locka is solvent for the state-appointed panel overseeing the city’s finances.

Municipal bonds issued for Tennessee-based Global Ministries Foundation housing projects were placed on S&P Global Ratings' CreditWatch and could face rating downgrades because of uncertainty related to a federal investigation.

A federal judge on Friday dismissed Securities and Exchange Commission charges against Peter Cannava, a banker involved in an ill-fated private placement for startup video game company 38 Studios.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is arguing that any court challenge to the constitutionality of revised Rule G-37 on political contributions can be made when an enforcement action is taken over a violation of the rule.

Rhode Island state Rep. Robert Craven Sr., a former state assistant attorney general, is calling for the release of grand jury documents and testimony on the state’s 38 Studios investigation.

Maryland’s $5.6 billion Purple Line P3 in jeopardy after federal judge halts the project over ridership worries.

Jacksonville, Florida, is asking voters for a half-cent sales tax to help pay down nearly $3 billion in pension liabilities, but a recent lawsuit threatens to derail the referendum.

A Kentucky judge has granted a temporary injunction blocking Gov. Matt Bevin from removing the University of Louisville's trustees.

Rhode Island won’t file criminal charges related to 38 Studios, frustrating those who want to know more about the deal behind Curt Schilling’s video-game company.