Harrisburg, Pa.'s city council members cannot challenge the dismissal of the city's bankruptcy, an appeals court ruled yesterday, Bloomberg News reported. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia granted a request by Harrisburg's mayor and the County of Dauphin to block the councilors attempt to appeal. The mayor, the county and the state of Pennsylvania opposed the bankruptcy when it was filed by a majority of the council in October. Bankruptcy Judge Mary D. France dismissed the bankruptcy on Nov. 23, saying that it was not authorized by state law. She later refused to let the council's attorney, Mark Schwartz, challenge her ruling, saying that he waited too long. Her decision was upheld by U.S. District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo, who called the effort to appeal to district court "potentially frivolous."
