State employee settles religious freedom lawsuit

A state employee can continue to post religious and political stickers on his car and in his cubicle, under a settlement reached in his lawsuit.

Alan Blackburn, of Pequot Lakes, had claimed he was forced to park a quarter-mile away from the Brainerd office where he worked for the Revenue Department because he was barred from using the office parking lot.

He sued, with backing from the American Center for Law and Justice, a Virginia-based religious rights group that announced the settlement on Tuesday. Under the settlement, the Revenue Department did not admit liability, but will allow Blackburn to post his signs. Blackburn agreed to drop his lawsuit.

The lawsuit claimed other state employees are allowed to have bumper stickers and other signs on their cars or in their office cubicles.

Some of the signs on Blackburn's car said, "God is a loving and caring God," or "God gave us the 10 Commandments. 'In God We Trust' is our national motto. Why can't the 10 Commandments be displayed on government property?"