Gay marriage challenge cost Indiana $1.4M in attorney fees

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indiana attorney general’s office says the state had to pay more than $1.4 million in fees to plaintiffs’ attorneys in its unsuccessful attempt to maintain its ban on same-sex marriages.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Indiana in October when the U.S. Supreme Court decided to let stand two federal court rulings that said the state’s ban and refusal to recognize such marriages performed elsewhere was unconstitutional. That resolved the five lawsuits in favor of the plaintiffs, leaving the state to foot the legal bills.

The Indianapolis Star reports the most costly case at $650,000 involved Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney, a Munster couple who fought to have their marriage recognized as Quasney was dying of cancer. That became the lead case in Indiana on same-sex marriage.

More in Nation

See More