David Williamson, a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Brevard County, is founder and director of the Central Florida Freethought Community. (Photo: PROVIDED PHOTO) The Brevard County Commission’s refusal to provide representatives of the atheist and agnostic community an opportunity to give the invocation at the start of commission meetings is proving costly. Two federal courts found that the county’s policy of having only clergy give the invocation violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by discriminating in favor of certain monotheistic religions. As a result, the County Commission on Tuesday will vote on paying damages and legal fees totaling $490,000 to settle the case. The proposed settlement includes: Paying the groups and individuals who sued the county $60,000 in compensatory damages. Paying the plaintiffs $430,000 to cover their attorney and litigation expenses. The money would be paid through an insurance trust with which Brevard County has a coverage agreement. After the County Commission in 2014 refused to change its policy of inviting only representatives of religious groups to give the invocation at the start of County Commission meetings, several organizations and individuals sued the county in U.S. District Court in 2015. The plaintiffs won that case, as well […]
