Law and legal issues

Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. filed a motion seeking relief in Jefferson County, Ala.’s bankruptcy case saying the county proposed minimal sewer rate increases that may not support the outstanding $3.1 billion of debt.

Standard & Poor’s upgraded to AA from BBB bonds of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Authority, Ala. after it determined there would be no impact from Jefferson County’s bankruptcy filing.

A week after voters overturned Michigan's controversial emergency management law, two of the state's six emergency managers are planning their exits and officials say the repeal could set the stage for the state's first municipal bankruptcy.

The small Mendocino Coast Health Care District in Northern California has filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection.

Election results are being challenged in Richland County, S.C., where voters apparently approved a $450 million bond authorization.

An "ad hoc" group holding $676 million of Jefferson County, Ala.'s sewer warrants says the bankrupt county has failed to propose reasonable sewer rate increases that protect their holdings.

Just two weeks after receiving clearance from the state Supreme Court, Minnesota hits the market Wednesday with its $654 million tobacco refunding that marks its first formal use of an appropriation pledge.

A judge on Friday granted Highmark's motion for a preliminary injunction against West Penn Allegheny Health System, blocking the speculative-rated health system from seeking other suitors for an affiliation.

Moody's withdrew its rating on Compton, Calif., sewer enterprise bonds citing a lack of reliable, timely financial information.

A federal judge will sentence David Dodd on felony counts related to the failed Capitol View Commerce Center project in Harrisburg, Pa.

Jefferson County, Ala., commissioners approved new sewer rates that have already drawn protests from many quarters.

Voters Tuesday repealed Michigan's controversial new law for fiscally stressed local governments, a move that Gov. Rick Snyder warned could lead to some municipalities declaring bankruptcy.

The auction last month of assets from the half-built Mamtek US Inc. artificial sweetener plant in Moberly, Missouri raised about $1.8 million.

San Bernardino was granted extra time by a U.S. bankruptcy judge to make its case for bankruptcy at a hearing held Monday.

A federal judge has ordered Tampa Bay Water to pay $20 million in legal costs to an engineering firm the water supplier unsuccessfully sued this year.

Plainwell Community Schools has sued Michigan after the state refused to sign off on a privately placed bond sale that would allow the district to pay off a state loan and generate interest-rate savings.

Jefferson County, Ala.'s plan to factor corruption into future sewer system rate increases is setting the stage for another legal fight with the trustee for the system’s $3.2 billion of debt.

Pittsburgh officials say they have come so far from their basket-case days of nine years ago that they want a state agency to remove the "distressed" tag.

A federal judge rendered a split decision in an environmental lawsuit brought against Honolulu's $5.2 billion elevated rail project, but did not order a halt to construction.

Grigsby & Associates Inc. owner Calvin Grigsby faces a December hearing on accusations leveled by Illinois Secretary of State regulators over the firm's investment advice to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.