Early Motions in Madoff Case to Be Heard Wednesday.

Beginning on Wednesday, the federal court in Manhattan will be the forum for three important issues affecting investors caught in the widening scandal surrounding Bernard L. Madoff, accused of operating a $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Most important, Judge Louis L. Stanton of United States District Court, who is handling the civil case against Mr. Madoff, is being urged to consider broadening the protections normally available to investors in failed Wall Street firms to allow for the ''devastating'' circumstances of the Madoff scandal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]