Welfare and Poverty Cases

Blessing v. Freestone - Determined the ability of plaintiffs to use a federal law that prohibits state officials from violating constitutional or statutory rights to sue the state for failing to provide child support enforcement services mandated under federal law. April 1997

Colon v. City of New York, U.S. v. City of New York - Determined whether welfare recipients who must work in public "workfare" jobs in order to receive welfare benefits are protected against sexual harassment and discrimination in those jobs by Title VII, the federal law against employment discrimination. February 2004

Frew v. Hawkins, Frazar v. Gilbert - Determined whether it is constitutional to use federal power to compel the State of Texas to provide Medicaid to indigent children under the Medicaid Act.

HUD v. Rucker and OHA v. Rucker - Determined the right to an innocent tenant defense in public housing to protect innocent tenants from eviction for crimes committed by family or persons known to them. March 2002

In re Ruiz v. New York - A lawsuit challenging the failure of New York City to update its schedule for determining child care eligibility and child care co-fees. November 2000

Legal Services Corp. v. Velazquez - Determined the constitutionality of a restriction imposed by Congress and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) on the professional activities of groups that receive LSC funding. February 2001