The lawsuit forced Ohio to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples married in other states, and recognize gay marriages on death certificates. Photo:

The lawsuit forced Ohio to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples married in other states, and recognize gay marriages on death certificates. Photo:

CINCINNATI — The state has agreed to pay $1.5 million in attorneys’ fees and expenses to the law firm that handled the challenges of Ohio’s gay marriage ban.

Cincinnati federal judge Timothy Black approved an agreement Monday between the Ohio Department of Health and Cincinnati law firm Gerhardstein and Branch Co.

The firm sued to force Ohio to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples married in other states and to force the Health Department to recognize gay marriages on death certificates.

Black previously ruled in favor of gay couples in both cases. The judge on Monday issued his final order based on last summer’s 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage across the country.

A message was left with the Health Department.

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