![\"Phariss](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Phariss.Holmes.jpg?resize=740%2C494\")
<\/p>\n5th Circuit Orders Texas to Pay $600K to Couples Who Fought to Overturn State\u2019s Gay Marriage Ban<\/b><\/p>\n
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In December 2015,\u00a0U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered the state to pay more than $605,000 in fees<\/a> and costs to Akin Gump, the firm that represented two same-sex<\/a> couples<\/a> in a marriage lawsuit, DeLeon v. Perry<\/em>.<\/p>\n Akin Gump represented Cleopatra DeLeon and Nicole Dimetman of Austin, and Mark Phariss and Vic Holmes of Dallas (above).<\/p>\n Texas appealed to the 5th Circuit to avoid paying the fees and lost on Tuesday, the Dallas Morning News<\/em> reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals awarded their attorneys\u00a0$585,470.30 in\u00a0fees and $20,202.90 in other costs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled,\u201d said Phariss, who married Holmes in Frisco just months after the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex<\/a> marriage legal nationwide. \u201cIt\u00a0means that our attorneys finally get compensated for all of their hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n The funds will come out of state coffers. The Office of the Attorney General led the charge against their effort. Spokesman Marc Rylander said the Office of\u00a0Attorney General Ken Paxton was\u00a0\u201cdisappointed in the ruling\u201d and considering\u00a0next steps.<\/p>\n The law firm,\u00a0Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, will receive the funds and use them for pro bono work.<\/p>\n The post 5th Circuit Orders Texas to Pay $600K to Couples Who Fought to Overturn State\u2019s Gay Marriage Ban<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n