ATLANTA (AP) — A civil rights group says it has reached a settlement with the city of Atlanta in a long-running legal dispute involving a man with HIV who said he was denied a job with the police department.

Lambda Legal said Wednesday the city would pay $250,000 under terms of the agreement, which must be approved by the city council.

Lambda Legal HIV Project Director Scott Schoettes says the settlement sends a clear message to police departments across the U.S. that they can't discriminate against people with HIV.

City officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

The case involves a 40-year-old plaintiff who applied to the police force in 2006. A city attorney has testified that a doctor who screens candidates advised that the plaintiff's interaction with the public be limited.