Judge allows appeal in Detroit bankruptcy case
Source: Associated Press
Judge allows appeal in Detroit bankruptcy case
By ED WHITE, Associated Press | December 16, 2013 | Updated: December 16, 2013 1:42pm
DETROIT (AP) — A crucial decision that keeps Detroit in bankruptcy court and puts pensions at risk can immediately be appealed to a higher court, a judge said Monday.
But Judge Steven Rhodes said he still needs a day or two to think about whether he'll recommend that a federal appeals court put the case on a fast track.
At issue is Rhodes' Dec. 3 opinion that changed the tone of Detroit's bankruptcy case. He found the city eligible to remake itself under Chapter 9, saying it was impossible for officials to genuinely negotiate before the July filing. He also declared that pensions aren't immune to cuts in a final plan, contrary to the Michigan Constitution.
Attorney Lisa Fenning said pension funds aren't trying to stop the bankruptcy process and will continue to negotiate with the city as it tries to come up with a broad plan to restructure $18 billion in long-term debt.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Judge-allows-appeal-in-Detroit-bankruptcy-case-5068097.php
