Law and legal issues

The trustee for the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority's defaulted bonds wants a toll increase for the Garcon Point Bridge but north Florida residents are opposing the plan.

Two former Allen Park, Mich. officials have settled a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit against them by agreeing to be barred from involvement in any future municipal bond offerings, and ex-Mayor Gary Burtka agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

A federal judge ordered the former comptroller of a Harvey, Ill., to pay more than $200,000 in fines and barred him from participation in any future municipal issues for his role in misleading investors on several of the south Chicago suburb's past bond offerings.

The Jan. 22 executive order signed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to appoint an emergency management team to oversee Atlantic City's finances is a credit negative for other struggling Garden State municipalities, according to Moody's Investors Service.

A Medicare violation self-reported by the Mendocino Coast Health Care District could delay its efforts to exit Chapter 9 bankruptcy, according to a Standard & Poor's report.

It could be a crucial year for Detroit Public Schools as Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and a newly created coalition of Detroit leaders take on problems at the long-troubled district.

California's attorney general's office needs two additional weeks to complete its required review of the proposed sale of non-profit Daughters of Charity Health System to for-profit Prime Healthcare.

The Georgia Supreme Court holds oral arguments Feb. 3 in three appeals opposing the public financing for the Atlanta Braves’ new stadium in Cobb County.

The Illinois Supreme Court denied requests by Chicago, other issuers, several civic groups, and a municipal lawyers group to file briefs supporting Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's defense of state pension reforms.

Assured Guaranty will provide Kentucky's Paducah Power System with surety bonds to free up some debt service reserves at the cash-strapped utility, according to PPS officials.

Moody's Investors Service raised the Harris County Houston Sports Authority's subordinate debt to investment grade after settlement of a lawsuit with its bond insurer and financial restructuring.

The arrival of an emergency manager in Atlantic City, N.J. triggered a six-notch downgrade by Moody's Investors Service Friday, drawing criticism from the city's top financial official.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie put his state government in control of struggling Atlantic City Thursday, hiring an emergency manager and naming a key figure in Detroit's bankruptcy case as a consultant.

Opponents of North Carolina's plan to toll portions of Interstate 77 north of Charlotte have filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the express-lane project.

Chicago and its south suburban neighbor Harvey have struck a $20 million settlement that resolves a dispute over the suburb’s delinquent payments for city-supplied water.

Jones Day, the law firm that oversaw Detroit's bankruptcy, said it cut its fee by $18 million, leaving a $58 million final tab that it defended as reasonable given the "cutting-edge" nature of the Chapter 9 case.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein has denied a request by Franklin Templeton Investments to stay Stockton's Chapter 9 bankruptcy exit.

Newly inaugurated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who sued President Obama 31 times as attorney general, promised to continue fighting the federal government in his first speech as chief executive of the Lone Star State.

Chicago's lawyers warn that the fiscal well-being of the city and its sister governments hangs in the balance as the Illinois Supreme Court considers whether the state's sovereign police powers trump constitutional protections against cutting pensions.

Oppenheimer Funds is looking over a judge's dismissal of its challenge to Rhode Island's plan to sell nearly $600 million in tobacco-settlement bonds.