LAMBDA LEGAL ARCHIVE SITETHIS SITE IS NO LONGER MAINTAINED. TO SEE OUR MOST RECENT CASES AND NEWS, VISITNEW LAMBDALEGAL.ORG

Ninth Circuit Dismisses Appeal of District Court Ruling for Lambda Legal Client Karen Golinski

Find Your State

Know the laws in your state that protect LGBT people and people living with HIV.
July 23, 2013

San Francisco (July 23, 2013) -- Citing the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down Section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today dismissed the appeal of the U.S. District Court ruling in Golinski v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Section 3 challenge brought by Lambda Legal and Morrison & Foerster on behalf of Karen Golinski, a federal court employee denied family health coverage for her spouse.

"What a wonderful day for Karen, her spouse, Amy Cunninghis, and their family," Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Tara Borelli said.  "While we knew this order was coming after the historic Supreme Court ruling last month, it is nonetheless a huge relief for Karen to know that, after a long battle that began five years ago, her relationship is respected by the federal government, and her family is protected.  This order is the icing on the cake, and we at Lambda Legal could not be more delighted."

"We at Morrison & Foerster congratulate Karen and her family on their hard-earned victory," said Rita Lin, associate attorney at Morrison & Foerster.  "Their courage and perseverance in facing down discrimination helped pave the way for the Supreme Court's landmark decision, and they should be proud of that."

The order is attached: http://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/legal-docs/golinski_us_20130723_order

###

Contact Info

Tom Warnke, Cell: 213-841-4503: Email: twarnke@lambdalegal.org

Share