Court Approves Class Action Settlement to Improve Access to Food Stamps in Georgia

On August 5, 2015, Judge William S. Duffey, Jr., of the Northern District of Georgia approved the class action settlement in Melanie K. v. Horton. NCLEJ filed the case to challenge Georgia’s system-wide failure to process food stamp applications and renewals in a timely manner. Under the settlement, Georgia must improve its timely processing of food stamp applications until it achieves 96% on-time processing of applications in six out of seven quarters. Additionally, applicants who were wrongfully denied food stamps or renewal of food stamps during the time period of the lawsuit and who were subsequently approved will be provided retroactive benefits, subject to USDA approval. Local counsel David Webster and attorneys from DLA Piper’s Atlanta office joined NCLEJ on this case. Read the Judge’s Order here.