A Tennessee woman who was fined for placing an “obscene” political sign in her yard has been awarded $32,000 after suing the city that punished her.
Julie Pereira successfully filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the city of Lakeland after officials were offended by her sign that read, “Fuck them both in 2024.”
His neighbors complained and a code enforcement officer issued him a $50-a-day ticket for displaying the sign in February, racking up a total of $427 in fines and other fees.
The mother filed a lawsuit last month, and attorneys for both sides approved a settlement Wednesday, finding that the city unconstitutionally violated her freedom of speech.
A Tennessee mother won $32,000 after winning a First Amendment lawsuit against the city of Lakeland after she was fined for this “obscene” political yard sign.
Julie Pereira said she challenged the city in court because she is “not afraid to say what I stand for and what I believe in,” and successfully argued that her right to free speech was being violated.
Pereira’s attorney, Daniel A. Horwitz, praised the settlement after it was reached this week, saying it was a victory for free speech.
“Being able to tell politicians to fuck off is a sacred American right,” he said. Business Insider.
‘We are proud to have protected Ms. Pereira’s right to express her political views and to have achieved a successful outcome in this important First Amendment case.’
Pereira has also started selling signs in his yard, saying that Facebook that she thinks ‘I was onto something here’.
In her lawsuit, Pereira explained the reason for her sign with profanity, saying she was disappointed to have to choose again between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the November election.
A code enforcement officer said at least 10 of his neighbors complained about the sign, with one reportedly saying he would have avoided buying his home altogether if he had known it would be displayed on his street.
Following his initial fine, Pereira attempted to challenge the penalty in court, however a judge ruled that it was not clear that the “both” in the sign referred specifically to Biden and Trump.
The judge also noted that Pereira has had other run-ins with the city, including another successful lawsuit in May in which he won a challenge over a Christmas decoration that also included profanity.
Pereira also won a lawsuit against the city in May over a challenge to a profane Christmas decoration (pictured) outside her home.
In her lawsuit, Pereira said she displayed the sign because she was disappointed to have to choose again between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the November election.
When the judge initially rejected his claim for the sign, he was allegedly told: “I’m warning you, I don’t want to see you here again.”
Pereira responded: “Your Honor, I do not want to see the City of Lakeland continue to violate my First Amendment rights.”
After that decision, Periera censored his poster with tape over the U, but his neighbors continued to complain.
At the time, neighbor Nathan Scallon said ABC24‘It has an implicit expressive language that I consider inappropriate for younger people.
“There are rights that must be protected, but that does not give us the license to act in an immoral or inappropriate manner, especially with regard to the children in the area.”
Pereira said she subsequently filed her lawsuit because she is “not afraid to say what I stand for and what I believe in.”
Not all of her neighbors were outraged, with one adding to the outlet at the time that they agreed with her and felt “it’s a slippery slope when the city starts poking its nose into what people can and can’t do with their private property.”
City attorneys finally reached an agreement this week and settled the lawsuit.
Pereira won $31,000 for his legal fees plus several hundred dollars in damages and costs.