North Dakota Gay Rights Group Seeking Legal Fees From State

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A national gay rights group that sued North Dakota on behalf of a same-sex couple is seeking more than $120,000 in legal fees.

Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit in June of 2014 on behalf of Jan Jorgensen and Cindy Phillips, who live in Fargo. The couple married in Minnesota and sued the state because it wouldn't recognize their marriage.

The group and the Minneapolis-based Faegre Baker Daniels law firm have asked a federal judge to award a total of $124,000 to 10 attorneys who worked on the case.

Last month, North Dakota settled with attorneys who represented seven same-sex couples who sued the state and agreed to pay $58,000 in legal fees and costs.

A message left with a Lambda Legal spokesman was not immediately returned Wednesday.