Supreme Court of the United States
Atkins v. Parker
June 4, 1985472 U.S. 115
Summary
The Supreme Court held that Massachusetts' mass‑change notice satisfied both the statutory and regulatory requirements and therefore did not violate the Due Process Clause; the Court reversed the First Circuit and affirmed the lower court’s dismissal of the constitutional claim. Justice Brennan’s dissent argued that the notice should have included individualized benefit calculations.
Holding
- Did the Massachusetts notice comply with 7 U.S.C. §2020(e)(10) and 7 C.F.R. §273.12(e)(2)(ii)?. The notice satisfied the statutory and regulatory requirements; no violation occurred.
- Did the notice violate the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause?. No constitutional due‑process violation was found.
- What is the proper interpretation of the statutory and regulatory requirement for "individual notice" in a mass‑change context?. "Individual notice" for a mass change requires only that the notice inform recipients of the change, not that it contain individualized benefit calculations.
Docket 83-1660
Cited authorities
- 7 U.S.C. § 2020
- 7 C.F.R. §273.12
- 78 Stat. 703
- 7 C.F.R. § 273.12
- 7 U.S.C. §2011
- 95 Stat. 360
- 7 U.S.C. § 2014
- 46 FR 44722