Ex-toll taker files suit over ‘God bless you’

PERTH AMBOY (AP) — A former Garden State Parkway toll collector has filed a lawsuit because she claims a supervisor told her to stop saying "God bless you" to motorists.

Cynthia Fernandez says her First Amendment rights were violated. The mother of three from Perth Amboy is seeking back pay with benefits and a cash settlement from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Fernandez tells News 12 New Jersey she feels like she's taking a stand for God "Maybe I'm the one who can bring him back, that it's OK to say 'God bless" she said. Her lawye, Greg Noble, says she is expressing herself as a Christian.

The lawsuit claims Fernandez suffered physical and bodily injury, huliliation, lost employment opportunities and psychological harm according to News 12.

Authority spokesman Tom Feeney says Fernandez resigned because she couldn't get steady hours. Feeney says she didn't mention the alleged incident in her resignation letter or to the area manager.  Fernandez seeks full back pay and a cash settlement with the Turnpike Authority.

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