Restraining order filed by Metro against Belgian bank

Metro has requested a temporary restraining order in federal court against a Belgian bank that is forcing Metro to pay $25 million by the end of the week because of a technicality in a financial deal.

Without federal intervention or a court-granted restraining order, the cash-strapped transit agency will be forced to make the payment using money from its 2009 capital budget, which would hurt its ability to pay for new equipment, or risk defaulting on the payment and facing a downgraded credit rating that would hurt its ability to finance future projects.