The fiancee of an unarmed man killed by police in a 50-bullet barrage and a friend who survived the shooting said Wednesday that a settlement of the federal civil lawsuit with New York City that topped $7 million was fair but not cause for celebration. The deal awards $3.25 million to the estate of Sean Bell, $3 million to Joseph Guzman and $900,000 to a third victim, Trent Benefield, minus 30 percent for legal fees. City officials confirmed that the settlement amount is the largest ever for a fatal police shooting.

Arizona is preparing to ask an appeals court to lift a judge’s ruling that put most of the state’s immigration law on hold in a key first-round victory for the federal government in a fight that may go to the U.S.

Lawmakers on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would reduce the long-standing disparity between federal sentences for crack and powder cocaine distribution. For years, critics have blasted the distinction between crack and cocaine sentencing as having a disproportionate impact on African-American men; 5 grams of crack triggers a mandatory five-year sentence while it takes 500 grams of cocaine to trigger the same sentence.

A New Jersey judge on Wednesday ordered the president of a mortgage firm and one of its salespeople to pay $75,000 in punitive damages, and more in attorney fees, for leading a homeowner into unknowingly selling her house and losing $162,000 — for their own benefit. The defendants “continuously concealed the character of their enterprise and the true nature of the transaction” and “preyed” on the homeowner’s “weakened health condition and financial vulnerability,” the judge said.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips on Wednesday lost its bid to have the California Supreme Court review a malicious prosecution lawsuit filed against the firm over Franklin Mint’s line of Princess Diana collectibles. In May, an appeals court reinstated the suit, finding that Manatt had no probable cause to bring trademark dilution or false advertising claims against Franklin on behalf of the firm’s clients, the late princess’s estate and The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.