What's Next?

The decision by Justice Ginsburg to delay the sale of Chrysler to Fiat until further notice may mean a lot or may mean very little. The action taken today is merely a delay - possibly only for a day or so, in order to review the documentation, before deciding to hear or dismiss the appeal.

If that's what is intended, an effort to peer under the hood to see if anything is amiss before dismissing, then look for a decision before Saturday. For some reason 15 June 2009 is important (upon which Fiat's obligation to 'purchase' Chrysler expires. ; -)

If, in the next day or so, the Supreme Court declares that they will hear the appeal, the Fiat deal is gone. Arranging a marriage partner at that point will be difficult at best and the most that can be hoped for is the liquidation of Chrysler, the most valuable piece of which is the Jeep brand.

And if the court does decide to hear the appeal, what has to be done to ensure the GM bankruptcy doesn't suffer the same fate?