Pich v. Lightbourne

Opinion

NICHOLSON, Acting P. J.

A new computer system changed the way public welfare benefits are administered. The system automatically terminates or reduces aid if the recipient fails to submit required eligibility reports within certain deadlines unless the caseworker inputs the required information upon the recipient’s ultimate submittal.

Plaintiffs alleged this feature of the computer system results in thousands of benefit recipients incorrectly losing their benefits or not receiving them within the time required by law. They sought a traditional writ of mandate compelling the state agency…