Law and legal issues

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Hewlett-Packard settled for $10.6 million in dispute over a city emergency communications contract.

Illinois Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner has the legal authority to appoint a replacement to serve out the upcoming term of the late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, but Illinois lawmakers should hand the decision over to voters in 2016, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said.

Detroit has just under two weeks to submit and disclose the final tab of its 17-month bankruptcy after attorneys and advisors agreed in mediation to reduce their fees.

A federal judge in Chicago has signed off on Harvey, Ill.'s settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission over charges it misled investors by diverting bond proceeds from their intended use.

Stockton, Calif. received approval of its bankruptcy plan in October, but it continues to face challenges from its holdout creditor, Franklin Advisors.

Topeka, Kan., will await a ruling from the Kansas Court of Appeals on a citizens petition before issuing $5 million of sales tax and revenue bonds to buy a financially trouble race track. The petition drive seeks a vote on whether to buy the track.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette issued an opinion that Detroit's Downtown Development Authority has the constitutional authority to use its funds for a new $650 million public-private hockey stadium and entertainment district.

Seven St. Louis County local governments, including Ferguson, face litigation challenging the legality of their municipal court fees.

Detroit issued $1.28 billion of new debt that its bond team says required novel financing structures to satisfy both Michigan municipal law and the strict confines of Chapter 9 creditor settlements.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal created a special agency and brought in anew attorney for the state's defense in the lawsuit over water rights filed by Florida.

The Illinois Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to an expedited review of Illinois' appeal of a lower court ruling overturning state pension reforms.

A San Francisco Superior Court judge will decide in January whether to uphold a decision to terminate the accreditation of the City College of San Francisco.

The largest municipal bankruptcy in the U.S. formally ends at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 11, and Detroit will begin fresh with local control and $7 billion less debt.

Atlanta unions have filed for an appeal of the Fulton County Superior Court's Nov. 10 ruling that tossed their lawsuit challenging the city's landmark pension reform package.

The U.S. Supreme Court has appointed an attorney from Maine as case manager for the lawsuit that Florida filed against Georgia in a dispute over water rights.

Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr said he is leaving the city with a new budget that would have a $100 million surplus after two years.

On Wednesday morning the FBI arrested an official in the Puerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized 20 boxes of documents Tuesday related to purchases made through Los Angeles Unified School District's $1.3 billion plans to provide iPads to every student.

Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr said he plans to resign from his position in the new few weeks and that he hopes the city will be allowed to formally exit bankruptcy by Christmas.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn on Tuesday said that Jefferson County can file a petition with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta in the county's bankruptcy appeal, while reframing the question, which is critical to holders of Jefferson County sewer warrants.