Law and legal issues

Martin County, Fla., decided April 14 to hire Chicago-based McDermott, Will & Emery to institute litigation against the All Aboard Florida passenger train project.

Fitch ratings has revised the outlook to stable from negative for $414.4 million of North Las Vegas, Nev., bonds, and affirmed the rating at B.

Municipalities are getting themselves into trouble by borrowing to cover operating deficits, Federal Reserve Bank of New York president and chief executive officer William Dudley told attendees at a closed-doors workshop Tuesday.

The San Bernardino, Calif., firefighter’s union filed two lawsuits, living up to a promise to litigate issues over its contract with the city, which has been in Chapter 9 bankruptcy for three years.

The St. Louis public agency helping in efforts to build a new stadium for the Rams football team is seeking clarity from the courts over whether the city can contribute financially to the project without a public vote.

The Georgia Supreme Court will not reconsider its decision to validate $200 million in bonds for the Atlanta Falcons' new $1.4 billion stadium, clearing the way for the financing to be marketed.

The new Florida Development Finance Corp. board on Tuesday delayed reconfirming the agency's decision to be the conduit for $1.75 billion in private activity bonds for the All Aboard Florida train project.

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Halifax Hospital plans to issue about $112 million of revenue refunding bonds boosted by two rating upgrades.

Rhode Island's Supreme Court has disbarred former House of Representatives Speaker Gordon Fox, who pleaded guilty last month to federal corruption charges.

Recent news signals continued trouble for Atlantic City, N.J., according to Moody's Investors Service.

The New Jersey Supreme Court agreed on April 6 to hear the state's appeal of a Superior Court ruling that sided with unions who sued Gov. Chris Christie after he stripped $1.6 billion of pension contributions from the budget.

Despite the bankruptcy of its current operator, the Indiana Toll Road continues to show the benefits of privatization, as does the new $5.7 billion bid for the road, Wells Fargo says in a new report.

A judge approved a tentative settlement to most legal challenges to Rhode Island’s 2011 law that overhauled pension benefits for state employees, said Gov. Gina Raimondo.

Struggling Illinois local governments should have the option of municipal bankruptcy, one mayor told lawmakers during the first airing of legislation that would add Chapter 9 to the state's statutes.

Indian River County, Fla., Tuesday filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to block the issuance of $1.75 billion in private activity bonds for the All Aboard Florida private train project.

Las Vegas Monorail bondholders have until April 7 to take advantage of an Ambac tender offer that offers a better-than-anticipated recovery.

Craig General Hospital in northeastern Oklahoma continues to operate after filing for bankruptcy protection.

A Kentucky attorney says there's no evidence to support a lawsuit on behalf of Paducah Power against Prairie State or its developer, Peabody Energy.

The Georgia Supreme Court should rescind its approval of the public financing for the Atlanta Falcons’ $1.4 billion stadium, according to a March 26 motion.

A Missouri city is asking a state judge to void its contract with the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission in the latest push back from local governments angry over higher energy costs tied to the controversial Prairie State coal plant project.