LAKELAND, Tenn — On Tuesday, July 9, a federal judge ordered the City of Lakeland to pay more than $30,000 to a homeowner who was fined for putting up a vulgar political sign earlier this year.
In February, a sign saying “F*** Em' Both 2024,” referencing the upcoming presidential election, caused controversy over free speech in Lakeland.
The City of Lakeland cited the woman who put up the sign, Julie Pereira, rightly stating it violates Lakeland's municipal code 14-405 under prohibited signs and devices.
Pereira said the ordinance violates her first amendment rights.
“The sign policy is unconstitutional for the City of Lakeland,” Pereira said back in February.
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On Tuesday, a judge ordered Lakeland to pay her back $688.45 in fees and fines it assessed against Pereira.
But the city must also pay all her legal fees, which total $31,811.75.
According to the settlement, the court declared the city's actions against Pereira unconstitutional, and Lakeland must pay her exactly $1 for violating her constitutional rights.
Tension between Pereira and the city started in December 2023 when Lakeland issued fines for her Christmas inflatable from the movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" that said “sh*****s full” on the side.
She left Shelby County court with a win and nearly $1,000 worth of reimbursements on the way to her bank account on May 1, 2024, for this incident.
"I’m all about complying, I’m all about rules, I’m all about regulations, but I’m not about complying with rules and regulations that violate my rights and that violate the constitution," Pereira said in February.