Filed Date: June 25, 1999
Closed Date: 2005
Clearinghouse coding complete
On June 25, 1999, several individuals, representing all individuals who were previously receiving benefits under one or more of Food Stamps, Medicaid, or Food Assistance, but whose benefits have been terminated and were denied fair hearings, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs, represented by a number of public interest firms, brought the suit against the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the New York Department of Health, and the New York Department of Labor. Plaintiffs contend that defendants systematically fail to provide recipients with fair hearings that comply with the requirements set forth in (i) federal and state statutory law; and (ii) the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Defendants moved to dismiss the case under FCRP Rule 12(b)(6). The District Court, held that: (1) recipients were not required to exhaust state court appeals of decisions; (2) Eleventh Amendment barred claims based on state law, but did not bar federal claims; (3) recipients could maintain suit under § 1983 for violations of fair hearing provisions of Food Stamp Act and Medicaid Aid; (4) the court was not required to abstain from deciding case under Younger or Burford abstention doctrines; and (5) recipients stated a claim that administrative law judges violated their rights to fair hearing by not assessing the adequacy of affidavits from state agencies attesting to notice procedures followed when benefits were withdrawn. The motion was granted in part and denied in part: plaintiffs' claims were dismissed to the extent that they arose under New York State law, but in all other respects, defendants' motion to dismiss was denied.
Following the judgment on the motion to dismiss, the parties agreed to a settlement. The terms of the agreement included (1) class certification; (2) training, coding, and sampling by the plaintiffs' counsel for 18 months; (3) individual relief allowing the named plaintiffs to reopen their hearings; and (4) the dismissal of the action.
Summary Authors
Noel Ripberger (2/23/2015)
Alvarez, George Anthony (New York)
Bach, Wendy (New York)
Barnett, Helaine (New York)
Blum, Richard Elliot (New York)
Bschorr, Paul J. (New York)
Last updated Dec. 19, 2024, 1:48 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 25, 1999
Closing Date: 2005
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All individuals who were previously receiving benefits under one or more of Food Stamps, Medicaid, or Food Assistance, but whose benefits have been terminated.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
State of New York Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, State
State of New York Department of Health, State
State of New York Department of Labor, State
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)
Benefits (Source):