FILE – This Sept. 19, 2013, file photo, shows the city of Detroit from midtown. Testimony has ended in a trial to determine whether Detroit is eligible to slash billions of dollars in debt in bankruptcy court. Closing arguments are set for Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
DETROIT (AP) — Attorneys representing Detroit’s state-appointed manager are making their final case to a judge who will determine if the city can fix its finances in bankruptcy.
Lawyer Matthew Schneider said Friday that objectors are confusing careful and deliberate planning by state officials with pursuing bankruptcy at all costs.
He says the filing was always a “last resort” and contingency planning doesn’t “mean you want the storm to come.”
Final arguments are continuing throughout the day from the city, retiree groups, unions and pension funds.
The city filed for Chapter 9 protection in July, but a judge gets the final say on whether Detroit is eligible for a restructuring overseen by the court. Critics claim emergency manager Kevyn Orr wanted bankruptcy for months and didn’t want to try good-faith negotiations before filing.
