The late Elaine Clark was the lead plaintiff in Clark v. Astrue, brought by Justice in Aging Directing Attorney Gerald McIntyre with Proskauer, Rose LLP and the Urban Justice Center of New York City.
Elaine Clark was receiving Social Security Disability Insurance for several serious medical conditions, including end stage renal disease. In 1996 she was living in senior housing and receiving medical treatment when the Social Security Administration unlawfully stopped her benefits based on an outstanding warrant. The warrant was issued because she was in alleged violation of a condition of probation. Although there never was a finding she violated her probation, SSA ended her benefits anyway. The SSA based their action solely on finding her name on a national crime database. With no other income, she was about to be evicted from her home. She died in the hospital while the case was still pending and before she could be evicted.