Olyphant Borough, Pennsylvania, July 30, 2024 — Former marine Dave Bliler and his family, represented by the Center for American Liberty, settle lawsuit against the Olyphant Borough after the Borough passed an ordinance removing the limitations on residents’ signs that restricted free speech and infringed on their right to express political views on their property.
“The Supreme Court ruled that ‘above all else, the First Amendment means that government has no power to restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter, or its content,’” Dave Bliler said. “That ideal inspired me to put up my sign. I’m grateful that our lawsuit could shut down the Borough’s restrictions on our most basic right to free speech.”
“The victory in this case sends a powerful message that Olyphant Borough’s sign ordinance and enforcement actions flagrantly violated the Constitution by imposing unnecessary restrictions and outright banning protected political speech,” Harmeet Dhillon, CEO and founder of the Center for American Liberty, said. “Expressing our First Amendment rights on our own property is a foundational principle of our republic. We are proud to have stood with the Bliler family in their fight for free speech.”
Read more about his case HERE.
BACKGROUND ON CASE: The Blilers asserted that Olyphant Borough’s sign ordinance placed undue restrictions on their freedom of expression after officials threatened the family with fines if they didn’t take down their sign. They argued that the ordinance, which governed the size, number, and content of signs on private property, imposed unjustifiable limitations on speech.
The previous ordinance allowed residents to display a single sign, with a maximum size of six square feet, and they were required to obtain a permit, subjecting the sign to potential content review. The revised ordinance, following CAL’s lawsuit, now allows residents to display up to three signs, each with a maximum size of sixteen square feet, and eliminates the requirement for a permit.
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