Joplin contractor denies wrongdoing in demolition

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - A Georgia company says it's stunned by charges that it violated Missouri wage laws and forged documents related the demolition of three Joplin schools hit by a deadly 2011 tornado.

Atlanta-based Urban Metropolitan Development on Wednesday blamed a third-party payroll contractor for any alleged compliance problems with Missouri's prevailing wage laws on public works projects. The company said it had been working with state and local officials to try to resolve discrepancies before the charges were announced Tuesday.

Earlier this year, Urban Metropolitan Development filed a federal lawsuit claiming breach of contract by Joplin schools. The suit also alleges that a school official created a "racially hostile work environment" that included threats of violence and offensive language against employees of the minority-owned business. That lawsuit is pending in court.