Law and legal issues

A grassroots group is asking Florida Gov. Rick Scott to delay further legal action against Georgia over water use in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania cited nominating-paper defects in rejecting the Harrisburg, Pa., mayoral candidacy of independent Nevin Mindlin.

Detroit's long-term revival depends on the ability to access the capital markets, which requires fair treatment of its bondholders in bankruptcy, said bankruptcy expert James Spiotto.

A court ruling that overturned a freeze on retiree healthcare cost inflation in Los Angeles could be a credit negative for state and local governments, according to Fitch Ratings.

Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr said he is considering several ways to wring cash out of the Detroit Institute of Art's collection.

The Tuomey Healthcare System in South Carolina said it is appealing a jury verdict ordering it to pay $277.4 million for False Claims Act violations.

Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes agreed to briefly lift the automatic stay on Detroit's bankruptcy temporarily to allow a state judge to issue an opinion on a related '13th check' pension dispute.

Moody's revised its outlook to developing from negative on Harrisburg parking bonds, pending resolution of the proposed recovery plan in Pennsylvania's capital.

Fitch Ratings confirmed Wednesday that Detroit made its Oct. 1 debt service payments on water and sewer bonds despite a default on its general obligation debt.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said environmentalists appealed a federal judge's ruling that would have allowed construction to begin on the Bonner Bridge replacement project.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott dropped his opposition to the merger of American Airlines with U.S. Airways, which faces a federal antitrust lawsuit.

Insurance is making a big difference in trading prices on Detroit's general obligation debt as the city was poised Tuesday to officially default on its first GO full faith and credit pledge.

Atlanta Public Schools is reviewing its options after the Georgia Supreme Court prohibited school districts from deducting pension costs out of charter school payments.

The Federal Aviation Administration says a North Carolina court should decide who will operate Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Florida filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking an injunction from the U.S. Supreme Court to stop Georgia's "unchecked and growing consumption of water," state officials said.

Dixon, Ill. will collect $40 million under a settlement that ends a lawsuit against the town’s auditors and bank who were accused of failing to uncover the theft of $53 million by the city former comptroller.

As promised, Fitch Ratings Monday dropped Detroit to D from C a day ahead of the city's expected default on its general obligation bond payments.

Conference speakers discounted the idea that the factors that drove several cities across the country into Chapter 9 bankruptcy are an aberration.

The bankrupt city of Stockton, Calif. said it would continue making CalPERS payments in a draft of its proposed plan of adjustment, which the city council will take up on Thursday.

A Georgia Supreme Court ruling that Atlanta's charter schools have no legal obligation to share in the Atlanta Independent School System's pension costs is a credit negative for school districts statewide, Moody's Investors Service said Monday.