An Ohio appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking to prevent Miami University from offering domestic-partner benefits to members of its faculty and staff. The lawsuit, brought by State Rep. Thomas E. Brinkman Jr., a Republican from Cincinnati, was originally thrown out last November by a Butler County judge, who ruled that he lacked standing to sue.

The three-judge appeals court ruled unanimously on Monday to affirm the lower court’s decision to dismiss, but Representative Brinkman could still appeal the case to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The appeals court did not address the question of whether the public university’s domestic-partner benefits violate a 2004 amendment to the state’s Constitution banning same-sex marriage. But the court rejected Mr. Brinkman’s claim of damages. “Any taxpayer money spent on domestic-partner benefits ultimately is reimbursed with money raised through private donations to the school,” wrote Judge James A. Brogan for the court. —JJ Hermes