A Charleston company is suing the state over a $1 million-a-year Lottery Commission advertising and marketing contract the firm claims it was wrongly denied.

Charles Ryan Associates filed suit Tuesday in Kanawha County Circuit Court.

The firm says it was alone among bidders in meeting the requirement to have two employees on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a response time of 60 minutes or less.

The Department of Administration awarded the contract to Columbus, Ohio-based Fahlgren, Inc. Charles Ryan Associates' lawsuit asks for that decision to be overturned and the contract awarded to it.

Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley-Brown says the agency doesn't comment on pending litigation.

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