Brinkman v. Miami University was a lawsuit filed by Ohio State Representative Tom Brinkman Jr. on November 22, 2005 against Miami University. Brinkman claimed Miami's same-sex partnership policy was in violation of Ohio's constitutional ban on civil unions. The lawsuit was filed in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. Brinkman has gone on the record, stating that Miami University "has created and recognized a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage."