Louisville- These clubs have been the center of controversy for a long time. Veteran county attorney Irv Maze says this was a story when he was in law school. The Kentucky Court of Appeals is on record with another decision that could drag the fight over strip clubs out for nearly two more years.

There are between 20 and 30 strip clubs around town. Among the limitations the city wants to impose are a 1:00 a.m. closing time, book stores required to have all parts of the business including peep booths to be visible to employees, and full nudity would be banned.

But this decision by the Kentucky appeals court has put all those rules on hold until all this is argued in the higher courts.

“The law has been passed,” says Jefferson County Attorney Irv Maze. “Everyone can agree to abide by what the law is.”

These clubs have been the center of controversy for a long time. How long? Veteran county attorney Irv Maze says this was a story when he was in law school.

It seems that simple, but the adult businesses say the law violates their right to free speech. And they’re quick to point out how much money the city is spending to fight this.

“Your electorate ought to be upset that instead of getting more policemen or police cars or potholes, we’re spending money to defend this,” says attorney Frank Mascagni III.

But the councilman leading the charge in these court battles says money should be no object. “It’s a fight worth fighting,” says Doug Hawkins, R-Louisville. “If we can stop all the crime and violence associated with this we’re gonna do it.”

Hawkins spoke of national and local statistics proving the businesses are a crime magnet, but he wasn’t able to produce any of those numbers before our deadline.

Meanwhile, the folks representing these clubs say all the expense of the court battle can be avoided. “These people on Metro Council who are really concerned about this, why don’t we all sit down and settle this case and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in man hours?” Mascagni asks.

“Don’t be fooled by that, folks,” counters Maze. “The fact of the matter is those same club owners negotiated with the councilmen, members trying to get them to pass a certain law. They didn’t get the law they wanted, so they filed suit.”

The folks representing these clubs say all the expense of the court battle can be avoided. “These people on Metro Council who are really concerned about this, why don’t we all sit down and settle this case and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in man hours?” Mascagni asks.