Costa V. Sunn

The first of these matters, No. 9597, began as a class action filed in First Circuit Court on November 6, 1981, by Audrey K. Costa and Suzanne Carol Palmer (collectively Costa), recipients of public assistance under programs administered by the Department of Social Services and Housing (DSSH) against Franklin Y. Sunn, individually and as Director of DSSH. The action sought to have the circuit court declare invalid certain rules of eligibility for public assistance programs promulgated by DSSH, effective January 28, 1982 (January 1982 Rules). The rules were necessary to bring the programs into compliance with new standards for eligibility established by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law No. 97-35, 95 Stat. 357. The second matter, No. 9889, began as an appeal to the First Circuit Court by Ashlynn Walker (Walker)*fn1 from DSSH's termination of her welfare benefits.