Law and legal issues

A federal court on Thursday afternoon approved the reorganization plan and subsequent bankruptcy exit for Central Falls, R.I., only 13 months after it filed.

Activists filed a lawsuit challenging the environmental impact report produced by the developer of the $1.5 billion National Football League stadium planned for downtown Los Angeles.

A week after hearing oral arguments, the state Supreme Court Wednesday afternoon ruled that three of four high-profile referendums should appear on the November ballot. All three could have long-lasting impact on the state's future if approved.

After guilty verdicts against three former UBS AG professionals in a bid-rigging case, the prosecution and a municipal market observer saluted the decision, while defense attorneys vowed to appeal.

An Oklahoma lawmaker asked the state attorney general to determine if Tulsa County's $750 million Vision2 proposal violates the state constitution.

Crawford County, Ark., Judge John Hall said the county should know how much it will cost to build a new jail and where to build it in time for a March 2013 election.

The 131-year-old Morris Brown College in Atlanta was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after an investor holding $13 million of bonds demanded payment, or face foreclosure.

San Bernardino officials have presented a budget plan to pay for city services while in bankruptcy that leaves debt service payments untouched.

Moody's Investors Service has expanded its review for potentially downgrading Miami to include pension obligations and health care costs in addition to pending SEC charges.

Jefferson County, Ala.'s proposed rejection of a courthouse lease could lead other municipalities in bankruptcy to reject debt-secured leases.

The North Carolina state pension fund's investment in Facebook Inc.'s IPO is raising questions. The fund joined a class-action suit alleging it was misled.

The judge overseeing Jefferson County, Ala.'s bankruptcy is being asked to stop a lawsuit filed by the city of Birmingham.

Amid a court order to raise an earned-income tax, Harrisburg, Pa'.s City Council could seek an injunction, ask for clarification or refuse and risk contempt.

The state's top court Thursday will hear oral arguments for four controversial ballot proposals that have wound their way through the state's legal system.

The fate of Minnesota's proposed tobacco refunding is in the hands of the state's high court which is being asked to decide whether the use of an appropriation pledge constitutes a "public debt" that is subject to state limits on the uses of such debt.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette last week filed court papers seeking to dismiss a ballot proposal that would protect collective bargaining rights by making them part of the state constitution.

Harrisburg, Pa.'s City Council and its lawyer are discussing whether to appeal a state court ruling that requires it to double the earned income tax.

The Southern Environmental Law Center Tuesday filed a federal suit on behalf of conservation groups challenging North Carolina's $1 billion Garden Parkway toll road.

Rhode Island's Economic Development Corp., whose $75 million loan guarantee to company 38 Studios has taxpayers on the hook, took a step toward legal action.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has granted a motion by Harrisburg, Pa.'s receiver William Lynch to force the City Council to double its earned-income tax as part of the financial recovery plan in the state capital.