Reed v. Slaughter

The facts of this case are basically undisputed. On February 15, 1983, plaintiff, Betty Reed, slipped and fell on a sidewalk in front of premises owned by defendants John Slaughter and Constance Slaughter, not parties to the present appeal. A suit to recover for personal injuries was filed by plaintiff against the Slaughters on November 19, 1983.

At the time that the suit was filed Reed was a recipient of Medicaid payments, and of public assistance under the Assistance for Dependent Children program, N.J.S.A. 44:10-1 to -8. She continued receiving this assistance during part of the period that…