The Supreme Court ruled moments ago that Chrysler cannot yet sell most of its assets to Fiat, a move that has been opposed by three Indiana state pension and construction funds, The Washington Post reported.
The ruling grants a stay in the sale as the court gathers more data and schedules a hearing on the matter.
It temporarily blocks the way for Chrysler to complete its merger with the Italian automaker and begin its new, post-bankruptcy life.
The U.S. favors the Chrysler-Fiat merger and wants to remove the Indiana road block.
"I'm delighted it appears we will be getting our day in court," Indiana state treasurer Richard Mourdock said in an interview on CNBC.
Here's the text of the statement from Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
"UPON CONSIDERATION of the application of counsel for the applicants, and the responses filed thereto,
IT IS ORDERED that the orders of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, case No. 09-50002, dated May 31 and June 1, 2009, are stayed pending further order of the undersigned or of the Court."