MADISON, Wis. — A payment of more than $12,000 will end a civil claim filed on behalf of a man who held a controversial sign as a presidential motorcade passed through Platteville in May, his attorney says.

Andrea Baker said that city will pay $12,086.45 through its insurer to end the federal free-speech violation claim filed on behalf of Frank Van den Bosch of Montfort.

The stipulation that led to the dismissal is a release of all claims of liability, she said.

A $243 disorderly conduct citation against Van den Bosch was dismissed earlier.

Van den Bosch was holding a sign reading "F U G W" before the motorcade carrying President Bush arrived, and was told by police he could not display it. He then added small letters that changed the sign to say "Free Us G W" and held it up as Bush's went through Platteville.

Platteville Police Chief Earl Hernandez said his officers were responding to a complaint and had no choice but to issue the citation.

"The way our ordinance was written, and it has since changed, a complaint from one person is enough for us to respond, and we had about six complaints," he said.

Platteville City Manager Lon Pluckham said city laws have been updated to "better reflect state disorderly conduct laws." The old law required police to take action on the complaint and the change will allow for more discretion, he said.