JPL worker demoted after discussing intelligent design sues for religious discrimination

JPL worker sues over intelligent design demotion

PASADENA, Calif. — A Jet Propulsion Laboratory worker who distributed religious DVDs on the job is suing the JPL for discrimination after he was demoted.

David Coppedge’s lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles County says he was demoted last April for sharing his views in the workplace. He wants a court order allowing him to discuss his beliefs.

Coppedge is an information technology specialist on the Cassini space mission exploring Saturn. He’s also a Christian who promotes the concept that an intelligent being created the universe.

Defendants in the lawsuit include his supervisor, JPL and the California Institute of Technology, which runs JPL.

JPL spokeswoman Veronica McGregor said Monday that the JPL hasn’t received the lawsuit so it can’t comment yet.