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James Speet

(Provided)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Two men who fought the state’s panhandling law will each receive $6,500 of a $48,000 settlement with Grand Rapids, with the rest going to the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU’s $35,000 cut goes toward attorney fees. The lawsuit named the city and state as defendants.

Ernest Sims

City Commissioners on Tuesday, Oct. 8, approved a $48,000 settlement with James Speet and Ernest Sims who filed suit after being arrested for panhandling.

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A federal judge in Grand Rapids determined the law unconstitutional, a decision upheld by a federal appeals panel.

City Attorney Catherine Mish, who confirmed terms of the settlement, said it was a difficult case to defend.

The city essentially had to defend a state law that had been on the books for years. The city had no input on drafting the state law.

The city looked to settle the once the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker’s ruling that the state’s panhandling law was unconstitutional.

John Agar covers crime for MLive/Grand Rapids Press E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar