Hodge v. Ginsberg

McGRAW, Chief Justice:

This is an original proceeding in mandamus. The petitioners are six homeless residents of the City of Charleston.1 The respondent is Leon Ginsberg, Commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Welfare. The petitioners seek to compel the respondent to provide adult protective services to incapacitated individuals such as themselves and others similarly situated. We find that the petitioners are entitled to such relief, and grant the writ.

The individual petitioners are all persons within the state of West Virginia who lack the means to maintain a permanent residence,…