DETROIT (AP) — The UAW's chief lawyer testified Tuesday that he was willing to take the lead in negotiating retiree health care with Detroit but never got a response from emergency manager Kevyn Orr before the city filed for bankruptcy.

Michael Nicholson portrayed Orr and his team as inflexible in the weeks leading to the July bankruptcy filing. He said attendees weren't always free to speak at private meetings with Detroit attorneys about the city's poor finances and instead were required to put questions on cards.

"I've never been in negotiations where only one side speaks," Nicholson said.