Yesterday, following announcements from Ally Financial and JP Morgan Chase of temporary suspensions of foreclosure efforts in certain states, Fannie Mae issued a statement yes

On Thursday, Ireland's Finance Minister Brian Lenihan released a "Minister's Statement on Banking" announcing new commitments to troubled Irish banks. The statement began: "It is an urgent and immediate priority to reinforce international market confidence in our ability and commitment to restore our banking system to health and to secure the long-term sustainability of our fiscal position." Toward that end, Mr. Lenihan announced increased commitments to banks and building societies.

On Friday, the Washington Department of Financial Institutions closed North County Bank, headquartered in Arlington, Washington, and appointed the FDIC as receiver. As receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Whidbey Island Bank, headquartered in Coupeville, Washington, to assume all of the deposits of the failed bank.

On Friday, the Florida Office of Financial Regulationclosed Haven Trust Bank Florida, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and appointed the FDIC as receiver. As receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with First Southern Bank, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, to assume all of the deposits of the failed bank.

Yesterday, the European Commission announced that it was termporarily approving, under E.U.

In a decision that may create a significant roadblock for companies saddled with environmental clean-up liability to continue as a going concern, the Seventh Circuit in U.S. v. Apex Oil Company, Inc., 579 F.3d 734 (7th Cir. 2009) affirmed a district court injunction requiring the clean-up of a contaminated site in Illinois under section 7003 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) despite the company's bankruptcy. On September 27, 2010, the Supreme Court is scheduled to discuss whether to grant review of the Apex decision.

On Friday, the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions closed Bramble Savings Bank, headquartered in Milford, Ohio, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank. As receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Foundation Bank, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, to assume all of the deposits of Bramble Savings Bank.

On Friday, the Office of Thrift Supervision closed Maritime Savings Bank, headquartered in West Allis, Wisconsin, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank.

On Friday, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance closed Bank of Ellijay, headquartered in Ellijay, Georgia, First Commerce Community Bank, headquartered in Douglasville, Georgia, and The Peoples Bank, headquartered in Winder, Georgia, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for each bank. The failed banks were not affiliated with one another.

On Friday, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance closed ISN Bank, headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank.