Law and legal issues

A federal judge this week sided with Ohio when he dismissed a lawsuit challenging the use of Ohio Turnpike toll revenue to fund projects that aren't on the turnpike itself.

A Chapter 9 filing by the Chicago Public Schools could push the distressed district into a financial "death spiral," the district's former chief executive officer Paul Vallas said Tuesday.

Three federal appeals court judges dismissed a challenge Tuesday to the Securities and Exchange Commission's pay-to-play rule for investment advisors that has similarities to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's own pay-to-play rule for broker-dealers.

New Jersey's bid to legalize sports betting has once again been shot down by a federal appellate court.

Nanticoke is the first city and 10th municipality to exit Pennsylvania's Act 47 workout program for distressed communities, state officials say.

Fitch Ratings removed Wayne County, Michigan's speculative grade rating of B from its Rating Watch Negative in recognition of the city's improved fiscal prospects under a proposed state consent agreement.

The U.S. Supreme Court is unlikely to take up the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's recent request to consider a twice rejected law that would give Puerto Rican public entities debt relief similar to that under Chapter 9 bankruptcy, according to several bankruptcy experts.

San Jose, Calif.’s pension settlement with the city’s police and firefighters is evidence that reducing pension liabilities will be challenging for local governments, Fitch Ratings said in a commentary.

Hillview, Ky, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy on Thursday listing its largest debt as an $11.4 million judgment for breach of contract; it also has $3.2 million of bond debt.

Detroit's finance director had no complaints Thursday about the steep premium the city paid to access the municipal market for the first time since exiting Chapter 9.

Michigan is putting the word out to struggling municipalities that a $5 million grant program is available to help fund special projects that could help free up tax revenue for key services.

Detroit will price its first post-bankruptcy borrowing Wednesday after a full-court press on investors that emphasized state backstops that won the deal an A rating.

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of Clayton County, Ga.'s only hospital is a favorable credit factor for the county, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Car rental taxes collected for stadium bonds must be refunded after their use was found to violate the Arizona constitution, a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten has ruled.

The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute announced Friday that it will wind down operations by Oct. 1, leaving Port St. Lucie, Fla., on the hook for bond payments.

Bondholders could receive up to a 30% recovery on Nevada County, Calif. dirt bonds that went into default 23 years ago as part of a bankruptcy workout.

Pennsylvania issued a request for proposals to hire a law firm to initiate clawback from participants in the Harrisburg incinerator bond financing fiasco.

The Illinois Supreme Court will consider Chicago's appeal of a lower court ruling voiding its 2014 pension reform legislation under an expedited timetable leading to oral arguments this November.

Over 100 local state-side government officials signed a letter calling for Puerto Rico to be allowed to declare bankruptcy.

The authors of a California ballot initiative that would restructure public employee pensions said they will commission a legal review of the measure's "title and summary" before gathering signatures.