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Closing Arguments Begin In Trial Of Ex-NASA Worker Allegedly Fired Over Intelligent Design

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trial is winding down for a former NASA-affiliated computer specialist who alleges he was fired because of his belief in intelligent design.

Closing arguments began Monday in David Coppedge's wrongful-termination case against NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Coppedge worked as a team lead on the Cassini mission exploring Saturn. He claims he was discriminated against because he engaged his co-workers in conversations about intelligent design and handed out DVDs on the idea while at work.

Intelligent design is the belief that a higher power had a hand in creation because life is too complex to have developed through evolution alone.

Coppedge was let go last year after 15 years on the mission.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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