New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

A settlement has been reached in the class action lawsuit filed against the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA.) The suit was filed on behalf of more than 40,000 people across New York State who claimed that the agencies violated federal laws and due process rights. The suit alleged that the agencies took income tax refunds to pay debts allegedly owed for food stamp overpayments from 1996 to 2000. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, plaintiffs will either receive refunds or will receive a second notice telling them that they can have a hearing to dispute whether or not they did in fact receive a Food Stamp overpayment. (Aug-08-03) [U.S. NEWSWIRE]