Law and legal issues

The pending bankruptcy of the Central Coventry, R.I., Fire District has magnified debate about duplication and accountability within these jurisdictions.

The Central Coventry, R.I., Fire District appears headed for bankruptcy court after state officials and the local union remained stalled over cost concessions.

A group of northwest Indiana counties is eyeing a bid for a 75-year lease of the Indiana Toll Road that would be financed with more than $4 billion of tax-exempt revenue bonds.

Franklin Advisors, the holdout creditor in the Stockton bankruptcy, has filed an appeal challenging U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein's confirmation of the city's plan of adjustment.

A Chicago parks advocacy group has launched a legal challenge to block Star Wars' creator George Lucas' plans to use a site along with Lake Michigan shoreline for his proposed museum.

Culver City officials had little time to celebrate a favorable court ruling in the city's three-year dispute with the California Department of Finance stemming from the redevelopment agency wind-down process, as DOF filed an appeal three days later.

Atlanta unions are considering an appeal following a superior court ruling Nov. 10 that tossed their lawsuit challenging the city's landmark pension reform package.

Kentucky's Paducah Power System board Wednesday adopted a sweeping recovery plan to stabilize finances and provide customers with rate relief that includes potentially selling some of its interest in the troubled Illinois Prairie State coal plant.

A federal appeals court appears likely to hear oral arguments in the case of three convicted UBS AG bid riggers early next year, according to documents filed with the court this week.

Harrisburg, Pa., has begun advertising for a consulting firm to help lead the city's long-range comprehensive plan.

The federal judge overseeing Detroit's bankruptcy has ordered mediation to resolve a dispute over the city's legal bills, which total $140 million and are climbing.

Better scrutiny and support could help avert future bankruptcies, say public finance experts Richard Ravitch and James Spiotto.

Former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner will face trial on mail fraud charges after she declined to say in court that she had solicited campaign contributions for her personal use.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has hired public finance veteran and former New York Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch to act as senior financial advisor for a new financial review board that will oversee Detroit's finances as the city emerges from bankruptcy.

Bruce Cole, the head of Mamtek USA, the firm that triggered Moberly, Missouri's default on $39 million of municipal bonds sold for a failed sucralose plant, received a seven year prison sentence for theft and securities fraud.

Jefferson County, Ala., voters sent all five commission incumbents back into office even after they allowed sewer rates to go up.

The outcome of Detroit's high-profile bankruptcy highlights the growing tension between pension obligations and bond debt for distressed governments while leaving a lack of legal clarity on the treatment of general obligation bonds.

The bankruptcy judge overseeing Detroit's Chapter 9 case confirmed the city's plan of confirmation Friday, capping the largest municipal bankruptcy case in the U.S. by endorsing a plan that favored pensioners over bondholders

Standard & Poor's said Detroit's bankruptcy will not affect the agency's general obligation ratings despite "months of headlines and court battles."

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Nov. 3 that Florida can proceed with its suit against Georgia over fresh water rights.