Case: Meachem v. Wing

1:99-cv-04630 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: June 25, 1999

Closed Date: 2005

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

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 D…

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not assessing the adequacy of affidavits from state agencies attesting to notice procedures followed when benefits were withdrawn.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)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Alvarez, George Anthony (New York)

Bach, Wendy (New York)

Barnett, Helaine (New York)

Blum, Richard Elliot (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Bschorr, Paul J. (New York)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:99-cv-04630

Docket [PACER]

Nov. 23, 2005

Nov. 23, 2005

Docket
24

1:99-cv-04630

Opinion and Order

Dec. 9, 1999

Dec. 9, 1999

Order/Opinion

77 F.Supp.2d 431

31

1:99-cv-04630

Memorandum Order

July 27, 2000

July 27, 2000

Order/Opinion

2000 WL 1036169

129

1:99-cv-04630

Stipulation and Order of Settlement

Dec. 22, 2004

Dec. 22, 2004

Settlement Agreement
122

1:99-cv-04630

Memorandum and Order

March 8, 2005

March 8, 2005

Order/Opinion

227 F.R.D. 232

125

1:99-cv-04630

Memorandum and Order Upon Reconsideration

March 25, 2005

March 25, 2005

Order/Opinion

227 F.R.D. 237

Docket

Last updated Dec. 19, 2024, 1:48 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

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):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Legal Services/Legal Aid

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):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Supremacy Clause

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Monitoring

Issues

General/Misc.:

Government services

Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)

Benefits (Source):

Food stamps/SNAP

Medicaid