The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) is pleased to announce a settlement in the case brought by Aaron Norgren against the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. The lawsuit, originally filed on February 25, 2022, in the Federal District Court of Minnesota, centered around claims of racial and religious discrimination, as well as retaliation, against DHS.
Aaron Norgren, along with his father Joseph Norgren, opposed DHS’s requirement for employees to undergo training on Critical Race Theory and gender identity ideologies. As devout Christians, the Norgrens held deeply religious beliefs that contradicted the teachings of this training and believed in the fundamental principle of equality for all, regardless of skin color. When Aaron sought exemptions from this mandatory training in August 2020, his requests were denied. Facing this opposition, Aaron was ultimately forced to leave his employment with DHS.
After the case was initially dismissed by the District Court, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision and revived Aaron’s case, sending it back to the District Court for further proceedings. Following ongoing discovery, both parties have now reached a mutually agreed-upon settlement, bringing an end to this important case, with $10,000 to be made by the state to Aaron Norgren and attorney fees covered for UMLC.
“We are pleased that we were able to reach a good settlement for Aaron Norgren in this case. We at UMLC are proud to stand up for employees, who object to anti-Christian, anti-American, and anti-family woke indoctrination by their employers, like Aaron,” said Doug Seaton, President and Founder of UMLC. “Aaron’s case shows that employees can fight back when they experience workplace discrimination because they stand up for their rights. The 8th Circuit’s decision in his favor earlier this year is a bulwark against government employers cracking down on employees who disagree with government opinions on controversial issues of public concern.”
