City council has to decide whether to settle the lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 5 in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, said in early 1999, Marion city hall began to enforce a 7 p.m. curfew as controversy grew over the River Valley middle and high schools. The schools were built in 1962 on 78 acres where the military used to burn or bury tons of highly toxic chemicals. The River Valley school district has signed an agreement with the state and federal governments to build new schools, but they won't open until 2003. The suit said Citizen Action canvassed in Marion for several years before 1999 until 9 p.m. and without charge. Attorneys cited several federal court decisions declaring that curfews are unconstitutional if they halt canvassing for political or civic purposes by 9 p.m. Citizen Action will resume canvassing in Marion next week, with 12 to 13 activists hitting the streets.