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New Jersey Woman Allowed To Display '8THEIST' License Plate After Settling Lawsuit

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New Jersey woman has settled a lawsuit that will allow her to display a vanity license plate that reads "8THEIST.''

The settlement was filed in federal court Friday.

Shannon Morgan of Maurice River in Cumberland County had sued the state Motor Vehicle Commission in 2014 after it denied her request to get the plate that spells atheist with the number eight instead of the letter a on the grounds it might be considered offensive.

Friday's settlement agreement said the commission agreed the plate "is consistent with the Commission's applicable regulations.''

"Initially this was an oversight that was corrected immediately," commission spokeswoman Mairin Bellack told NJ.com. "The plate was and is still available upon request. The (commission) has issued variations of 8THEIST upon proper request."

According to NJ.com, Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed the lawsuit for Morgan.

"All Shannon Morgan ever wanted was for the state of New Jersey to stop disparaging her non-belief and cease treating her like a second-class citizen," Barry Lynn, the group's executive director, told NJ.com. "The lesson of this case is simple: The government should treat believers and non-believers equally."

As part of the settlement, the Motor Vehicle Commission also won't prohibit other vanity plates with sayings such as ATHEISM, GODLESS, HEATHEN, HERETIC AND SKEPTIC.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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