International

A year into Jefferson County, Ala.’s historic bankruptcy, its elected leaders aren’t the ones who are fully in control of the case’s direction. Neither are the brightest attorneys hired by Wall Street banks to protect their $3.2 billion investment in the sewer system for state’s most populated county. Read the Daily Bankruptcy Review article here.

The government’s bankruptcy watchdog says A123 Systems Inc.’s attempt to pay millions of dollars in “incentive” bonuses to a handful of the battery maker’s insiders appears to be a disguised bid to award the employees with illegal “retention” bonuses. Read the Daily Bankruptcy Review article here.

Federal bankruptcy watchdogs are continuing to wage war against a “bankruptcy premium” they say corporate attorneys may be charging companies in Chapter 11, but they are dialing back some of their demands that had riled members of the bankruptcy bar. Read the Daily Bankruptcy Review article here.

Electric car maker Fisker Automotive Inc. says recently bankrupt battery maker A123 Systems Inc.'s bid to scrap their contract will “severely harm” its business. Read the Daily Bankruptcy Review article here.

First Place financial Corp. has filed for bankruptcy protection and is selling the stock of subsidiary First Place Bank, the Youngstown Vindicator reports.