BLOOMINGTON - The Pantagraph on Tuesday asked a judge to unseal court records that reveal the amount of a settlement reached in a lawsuit filed against the town of Normal by the family of a motorist who was shot to death by a city police officer in 2002.

The Pantagraph has a filed a motion requesting that Judge James Souk unseal documents pertaining to the settlement reached by the town with the family of 20-year-old Nathan Ruch.

Souk agreed to seal the documents last week after Ruch's family requested during a hearing that the amount of the settlement remain private.

Ruch's family on Monday issued a statement, saying they agree with the Pantagraph's position that the settlement should be open to the public.

Ruch, an Illinois State University student, was shot and killed by Normal patrol officer James Merica on March 27, 2002 following a short traffic chase.

In a petition for access to court records, Pantagraph attorney Don Craven argues the Pantagraph "has substantial interest in reporting on the settlement of this claim against a public body, the Town of Normal, and one of its police officers.

In addition, the litigation has consumed the resources of this court for a period of several years, again at the expense of the citizens of McLean County, and the State of Illinois generally."

Souk will hear arguments on the petition Thursday.

David Dorris, the Ruch family attorney, said Souk conveyed to him Monday that he will not unseal the settlement until he receives stipulations agreeing to that by both parties of the lawsuit.

Dorris on Monday said he sent a stipulation to Souk on behalf of the Ruchs indicating its all right for the documents to be unsealed.

Tom DiCianni, the Chicago attorney that has represented the town and its insurance company in the lawsuit, must send a similar stipulation to Souk for the settlement to be made public.

DiCianni could not be reached to comment on the issue Tuesday.