I'm genuinely sorry for Acree and Pfeffer.  Their situation highlights a fundamental flaw in Alaska - there are essentially no binding contracts with the State.  Even if a contract is agreed with the Legislature, it can be undone in the next session by the same legislators who agreed to it in the first place. It's a major issue for any investor in the State, particularly for infrastructure like buildings, oil fields and pipelines.  It's one of the reasons Alaska is rated in the lowest 10% of states in the US for business.