Lambda Legal Sues Office of Personnel Management

On January 20 Lambda legal filed a suit against the federal government in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit requests that an order directing the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to obey prior rulings by Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alex Kozinski be enforced. In his ruling Judge Kozinski awarded spousal health insurance benefits to Ninth Circuit attorney Karen Golinski.

Golinski’s wife Amy Cunninghis was denied spousal health insurance through Golinski’s employer, the Office of Personnel Management. Kozinski ruled in January 2009 that this denial was illegal discrimination and ordered the Administrative Office of the U.S. courts to submit Golinski’s health benefits election form to her insurance company. The Office of Personnel Management refused to comply with Kozinski’s order.

The lawsuit filed on Wednesday requests that the federal court order the Office of Personnel Management to rescind its instruction to Golinski’s insurer so that her spouse can receive health insurance coverage. Lambda Legal’s Jennifer C. Pizer represents Golinski along with James McGuire and Rita Lin of Morrison & Foerster LLP.