COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The community organizing group ACORN is

not expressly prohibited from returning to Ohio under a settlement

reached in a lawsuit that claimed it used fraudulent voter

registration practices.

   But a lawyer for a group that filed the lawsuit says it would

fight in court any attempt by ACORN to reopen its doors in Ohio for

voter registration purposes because "it's inherent in the nature

of their practice to submit unlawful voter registration forms."

   A copy of the confidential settlement obtained by The Associated

Press shows that ACORN has agreed to refrain from supporting or

enabling others to engage in certain "unlawful conduct." It also

will surrender its Ohio business license.

   An ACORN spokesman says its opponents are lying in an effort to

keep down the black vote and prevent organizing in low income

areas.