Law and legal issues

The Puerto Rico Supreme Court today largely upheld the Puerto Rico government's December reform of the judicial pension system.

A Boulder environmental group has vowed to sue the Colorado Department of Transportation to stop a $490 million public-private project on the main highway to Denver.

Detroit's pension funds can file a direct appeal of the federal bankruptcy court's decision that the city is eligible for Chapter 9, a process that will run parallel to the city's Chapter 9 case.

If bankrupt Stockton and San Bernardino, Calif. fail to modify their pension liabilities, they could end up like Vallejo, which did not change those liabilities and now risks of a second bankruptcy, said Moody's.

Legislative limits on pension increases for retired judges and elected officials violate Arizona's constitution, the state Supreme Court ruled.

Detroit plans to file its long-awaited debt adjustment plan Friday.

The federal bankruptcy judge overseeing Detroit's Chapter 9 case heard arguments Wednesday from bond insurers challenging the city's effort to treat its unlimited-tax general obligation bonds as unsecured.

Rhode Island's announcement of a potential settlement regarding lawsuits challenging a 2011 landmark pension overhaul law is a positive development, said Fitch Ratings.

Jefferson County still faces uncertainty as appeals of its Chapter 9 exit plan coincide with elections that include a county commission candidate who is a plaintiff.

Lawyers for Detroit told the bankruptcy court Wednesday the city plans to file a motion proposing a new swaps settlement with UBS and Bank of America in the next three to four days.

A California appeals court has agreed to fast track review of a lower court's decision that prevents the state from issuing $8.6 billion in bonds for its high-speed rail project.

Rhode Island may have come out ahead in the proposed settlement to union-backed lawsuits challenging the state's landmark 2011 pension overhaul law, assuming it clears some remaining hurdles.

Detroit's Cobo Hall, the riverfront convention center that a few years ago struggled to survive, is now touting itself as a model of regional cooperation that the bankrupt city can replicate as it tries to rebuild itself after bankruptcy.

Rhode Island officials and a federal mediation panel late Friday announced a settlement in lawsuits that challenged the state's 2011 pension overhaul law, but state lawmakers must still approve it.

Four Atlanta residents are challenging the validation of $278.3 million of revenue bonds to partially finance a $1.2 billion stadium for the Atlanta Falcons.

Detroit's attempt to invalidate $1.4 billion of pension certificates as part of its bankruptcy is unlikely to be copied by other certificate issuers, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed a bill to enhance a settlement in Rhode Island's lawsuit against Curt Schilling and other principals of failed video-game 38 Studios.

The on-again, off-again Rhode Island pension lawsuit settlement announcement is on again, according to a federal mediation agency.The on-again, off-again Rhode Island pension lawsuit settlement announcement is on again, according to a federal mediation agency.

Detroit is set to file a long-awaited plan to adjust its debt next week whether or not it has nailed down certain proposals, such as the lease of its water and sewer system.

Jones Day's Chicago-based not-for-profit and healthcare group have left en masse to join Chicago-based Chapman and Cutler LLP in a move that marks a return home for eight of the nine lawyers that made the leap.