Former JPL worker claims discrimination over creationism belief

A former Jet Propulsion Laboratory worker who claims he was fired because of his belief in intelligent design is scheduled to start his civil trial against JPL next week in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

David Coppedge, the former systems administration lead on JPL’s Cassini mission to Saturn, claims he was unfairly demoted in April 2010 for giving co-workers DVDs promoting intelligent design — the theory that life and the existence of the universe are best explained as the result of the influence of God or an intelligent agent — and for discussing 2008’s Proposition 8 vote on gay marriage with colleagues. He accuses the agency of religious discrimination.

In court papers, JPL denies Coppedge’s claims. In 2011, the year Coppedge was let go, JPL laid off around 200 workers for budgetary reasons.

Coppedge first filed a lawsuit against Caltech, which operates JPL for NASA, after his supervisor, Gregory Chin, removed him from his team lead position in April 2010.

Coppedge alleged that at least three JPL workers complained about his political and religious beliefs.

In court papers, he said an administrative assistant reported to Chin in 2005 or 2006 that Coppedge had harassed her by requesting the annual office holiday party be renamed the “Christmas Party.”

In March 2009, he said, another co-worker complained that Coppedge harassed her by discussing Proposition 8 with her and by offering to lend her the intelligent design documentary “Unlocking the Mystery of Life.”

After receiving the complaints, Coppedge alleges, Chin told him not to share his political or religious views while at the office. Coppedge complied until his layoff, he said.

JPL spokeswoman Veronica MacGregor said in an email that she could not comment on the details of the case, but added, “The suit is completely without merit, and we intend to vigorously fight the allegations raised by Mr. Coppedge.”

William Becker, an attorney with the nonprofit Alliance Defense Fund who is representing Coppedge, said his client was disciplined for his Christian beliefs.

“They don’t have a policy against discussing religion and politics, so they essentially singled him out. He was forbidden from doing something everybody else was allowed to do,” Becker said.

Becker said the defense fund, which advocates for maintaining the traditional legal definition of marriage and other issues based on Christian doctrine, became involved in the case because of its possible ramifications for religious expression in the scientific community.

“Throughout the scientific and academic worlds in this country, if you dare insert what somebody perceives to be your evangelical Christian values — if they think you’re doing that — heads roll,” Becker said.

The trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday.