Daily Briefs . . .

 High court rules for Michigan energy firm in class-action suit 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won't make it tougher for defendants in class-action lawsuits to transfer cases from state courts to more business-friendly federal court.

The justices on Monday ruled 5-4 in favor of a Michigan energy company that wanted to move a class-action case from Kansas state court to federal court without showing evidence that damages in the case would exceed $5 million. That is the minimum amount required for transferring such cases.
 
The case involved a group of royalty owners who sued Dart Cherokee Basin Operating Co. alleging they were underpaid royalties on oil and gas wells.

A federal judge refused to transfer the case without evidence of damages. A federal appeals court declined to consider an appeal, but the Supreme Court said the law does not require such evidence.
 

Rhodes rules Detroit must reveal bankruptcy fees later this month 

DETROIT (AP) — A judge says Detroit must reveal later this month the total cost of fees charged by lawyers and consultants as part of the city’s bankruptcy case.
 
Judge Steven Rhodes on Monday told the city’s attorneys and advisers to submit final invoices within a week. The judge says Detroit then must tabulate the fees and release detail about total costs.

Rhodes is tying up loose ends in Detroit’s bankruptcy case. He approved Detroit’s historic reorganization in November, and state and city officials declared the bankruptcy over last Wednesday.

Detroit’s plan restructures its $12 billion debt load. It essentially removes and restructures $7 billion of that debt, while calling for $1.7 billion in savings and revenue over a decade to improve city services.
Fees charged to the city exceed $140 million. Mediators last week reached agreements with all parties on fees, but the judge still needs to approve them.

Mediators led by Detroit’s chief federal judge, Gerald Rosen, say their work appears to be over. They played a crucial role in striking deals between Detroit and its many creditors during the bankruptcy.
 

Death toll from GM ignition switches rises  

DETROIT (AP) — At least 42 people have died and 58 have been injured in crashes involving General Motors cars with defective ignition switches.
 
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims, updated the totals Monday.

Feinberg says he has received 251 death claims and 2,075 injury claims since August.

The fund so far has deemed a total of 100 claims eligible for compensation.

GM knew about faulty ignition switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade but didn’t recall them until February. 

Feinberg will accept claims until Jan. 31.

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