Victory! Indiana Federal Court Again Orders Recognition of Marriage for Woman Fighting Cancer and Her Wife

A federal court in Indiana today ordered the state — once again — to recognize the marriage of Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney, who is fighting cancer.

Lambda Legal won an emergency order for the couple in April, which was set to expire today. Today’s decision extends the requirement of the state to recognize their marriage throughout the court proceedings.

Lambda Legal plaintiff Niki Quasney says: 

We are so relieved. We are so thankful that we can move forward and concentrate on being with each other. Our time together and with our daughters is the most important thing in the world to me. I look forward to the day when all couples in Indiana have the freedom to marry.

Learn more about Lambda Legal's fight for marriage equality in Indiana
Love Unites US: Indiana

Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Paul Castillo says:

We are relieved and happy to send our congratulations and best wishes to Amy, Niki and their family. We applaud their courage and commitment to each other and to equality as they fight Niki’s illness. And while this family is experiencing urgent, life-threatening medical circumstances, they’re just one of the thousands of same-sex couples in Indiana enduring real financial and dignitary harm due to the State’s discriminatory marriage ban. Our work in Indiana is not done. All same-sex couples in Indiana need the security only marriage provides.

Niki and Amy have been in a loving and committed relationship for 13 years, and they have two children, ages 3 and 1. Almost five years ago, Ms. Quasney was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, having more than 100 tumors removed surgically in 2009, followed by years of chemotherapy. They have a civil union in Illinois and were married in Massachusetts in 2013 but need their marriage to be legally recognized in Indiana to receive the full protections that every other married family in Indiana receives.

Read the press release and learn more about the case.