Ed. Note: We will be off next week, returning 7/28.
Franzen v. Downtown Development Authority of Atlanta – Supreme Court of Georgia validates bonds for major downtown redevelopment project in which bonds would be issued to developer and serviced solely by infrastructure fees collected by the city. Ed. Note II: This issuance was easily validated despite lengthy, detailed objections, due to the fact that Issuer’s Counsel carefully lined up the relevant interlocking/overlapping constitutional and statutory provisions required for this type of transaction. Thus, this ruling may serve as a useful guide to structuring similar deals.
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association v. Bay Area Toll Authority – Court of Appeal holds that increase in region’s tolls to cross state-owned bridges, which was an increase approved by simple majority of voters at election called pursuant to bill passed by the state legislature, was a charge imposed for entrance to or use of state property, and thus it was not a “tax” as defined by state constitution’s provision on majorities required for tax increases.
When More Banks Compete for Municipal Debt, States and Towns Win.
And finally, Oh, Expedited You Say? In That Case… is brought to us this week by Saylor v. State, in which the court noted that “Saylor filed 16 separate tort claims.” This led Your Editor down memory lane to the time a girlfriend – clerking for a federal judge – brought home a filing from an inmate with the immortal title, “Expedited Motion to Kiss My Ass.” The source of the urgency remains unclear, but ya’ gotta respect the spirit.

Bond Case Briefs