Case Name: In the Matter of Madeline Palermo, Individually and on Behalf of Her Infant Child, Gerri-Ann Palermo, Petitioner, v. Philip Toia, as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Social Services, et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1977-03-21
Citations: 56 A.D.2d 889
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Madeline Palermo, Individually and on Behalf of Her Infant Child, Gerri-Ann Palermo, Petitioner, v Philip Toia, as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Social Services, et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 56
Pages: 889–889

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Madeline Palermo, Individually and on Behalf of Her Infant Child, Gerri-Ann Palermo, Petitioner, v Philip Toia, as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Social Services, et al., Respondents.

Opinion:
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the respondent State commissioner, dated September 9, 1976 and made after a statutory fair hearing, which affirmed a determination of the respondent Commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Social Services terminating a grant in the category of aid to dependent children on behalf of petitioner and her daughter. Petition granted and determination annulled, on the law, without costs or disbursements, and the benefits in question are directed to be reinstated retroactive to the date of their discontinuance. The grant in question was terminated on the ground that the petitioner was the registered owner of a 1969 Chevrolet automobile, and had declined to utilize its value toward the support of herself and her minor daughter. It appears, on this record, inasmuch as petitioner could not utilize public transportation to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, which helped her to maintain her sobriety, that petitioner's automobile was essential to her health, living requirements or production of income (see Matter of Knowles v Lavine, 34 NY2d 721, 722; Matter of Thornton v Lavine, 51 AD2d 640, 641). In any event, the petitioner's failure to comply with the demand of the local agency could not serve to deprive her minor daughter of the assistance which she was entitled to receive, in the absence of any indication in the record of a present lack of need (see Matter of Ryan v New York State Dept. of Soc. Servs., 40 AD2d 867; Matter of Zabala v Lavine, 48 AD2d 880, 881). Martuscello, Acting P. J., Cohalan, Rabin and Mollen, JJ., concur.