City to buy strip clubs to end lawsuit

South Bend (AP) - The city of South Bend will pay $400,000 to buy three strip clubs so it can settle a constitutional challenge over a law regulating adult entertainment.
     
The South Bend Redevelopment Commission approved the purchase Friday. The city plans to tear down the clubs.
     
Club owners John and Patricia Colley had sued the city over the ordinance, which set strict limits on such clubs. A judge in 2001 issued a preliminary ruling that generally upheld the law, but some of its requirements remained in dispute.
     
The final ruling was postponed while both sides negotiated the settlement.
     
The agreement is expected to be signed next week, and the city is hoping to close on the deal by the end of October.
      
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)