Lincoln Park, Michigan – from www.freep.com – Lawyers have cleared the way for a controversial strip club to open in Lincoln Park, a city lawyer said today.

After a contentious hearing this morning in federal court, U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmund asked lawyers on both sides to continue talking before she began holding Lincoln Park city council members in contempt for stalling on a liquor license transfer to the new Larry Flynt Hustler Club.

Edward Zelenak, an attorney for the city, said both sides got the matter resolved just before noon.

The $4.2-million Hustler club is at John A. Papalas Drive and Outer Drive in Lincoln Park.

“I would suspect they are near opening it,” Zelenak said.

Some council members held up the transfer last week even though it has already been approved by the state. Zelenak had also urged council members to approve the license transfer.

Attorneys for the club have said that the city has illegally held up the building’s opening as the matters were already settled in a consent judgment last year. Edmunds has already approved the consent judgment.

Today, Edmunds said would begin fining the city $12,000 a day and hold council members in contempt of court if the license was not approved at a meeting tonight.

“I’m pleased that the matter is over and it illustrates the need for council and all public officials to take heed to court orders,” Zelenak said.

Hustler Club attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment.