The U.S. Supreme Court could announce a decision next Monday on the final appeal petition tied to the Washington Public Power Supply System federal bond fraud case.
The high court is considering a petition from the Hoffer group, which comprises the last bondholders to oppose certain out-of-court settlements in the case.
The Hoffer group, which pursued a lawsuit against Washington State over the $2.25 WPPSS nuclear power projects 4 and 5 default in 1983, argues that its suit was improperly snuffed out as part of a settlement package that brought massive federal litigation to a close almost four years ago.
The settlements generated almost $900 million of funds. Lawyers for class action members in
Most employees of the District of Columbia's government, including teachers., were furloughed Friday as part of an effort to balance the city's $3.3 billion budget.
The furlough, which is expected to save the city $36 million, was approved by the D.C. Council in March as the first of 12.
Whether the other furloughs will follow remains to be seen. Responding to union charges of collective bargaining violations, the District of Columbia Superior Court struck the plan down on Thursday and ordered the city to cancel the first furlough.
The furlough was able to go through only after the District of Columbia Court of Appeals stayed the lower court order later in the day. The appeals court is expected to hear arguments in the case before Nov. 27, which is the next scheduled furlough day.
Exempted from the furloughs are uniformed police officers, firefighters, ambulance personnel, corrections officials, and employees in certain other 24-hour-a-day operations, such as juvenile facilities. But public schools, libraries, and recreation centers are not exempt.
The furlough plan was approved as part of the city's budget for fiscal 1993, which began Oct. 1.
