Court Opinion

ID: 9767172
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:11:54.787972+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:29.208452
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, dissenting. The majority opinion correctly states the law and is accurate in its statement of facts. However, I disagree with the results. To be specific, I think the provisions of 7 CFR § 273 (e) (8) conclusively establish that if a guardian or trustee is appointed by the court, with limitations attached, such funds are inaccessible to the applicant for food stamp eligibility. The mother of these children, Diana Donis, appellee, is not free to withdraw any portion of these funds for the ongoing expense involved in caring for the children. The New Mexico Probate Court specifically stated, under paragraph five of the decree appointing conservators, “That the Conservators are not to remove the moneys from the savings accounts or certificates of deposit without prior approval by Order of the Court.” I would assume that the New Mexico court would require a hearing, proof, and some type of showing before an order would be issued. If this is not a “court imposed limitation” on the use of these funds, then I do not know what is. In a similar case it was held that a beneficiary of a trust fund created from the proceeds of a personal injury claim is not required to apply to the court in order to be eligible for medical assistance. To require an application to the court in such circumstances is arbitrary and capricious. Buie v. Blum, 435 N.Y.S.2d 550 (1980). The trial court was absolutely correct in holding these trust funds to be inaccessible to the appellees. Therefore, I would affirm.