Lawson v. Shuart

Mrs. Georgia Lawson and her two children are clients of the Nassau County Department of Social Services (Department). On or about May 29,1971, she received a public assistance check from the Department. Several days later, while her possessions were being moved to a new place, she claims to have noticed that her handbag, containing the remaining proceeds of her grant, had disappeared.

Upon discovering her loss, Mrs. Lawson telephoned the local police to report the loss, notified the Department and requested that her grant be duplicated. The Department denied the request on the ground that…