{
  "id": 5334521,
  "name": "Manuela CONTRERAS, Appellant, v. NEW MEXICO HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, Appellee",
  "name_abbreviation": "Contreras v. New Mexico Health & Social Services Department",
  "decision_date": "1972-02-25",
  "docket_number": "No. 752",
  "first_page": "574",
  "last_page": "575",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "83 N.M. 574"
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    {
      "type": "parallel",
      "cite": "494 P.2d 1391"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.M. Ct. App.",
    "id": 9025,
    "name": "Court of Appeals of New Mexico"
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    "id": 52,
    "name_long": "New Mexico",
    "name": "N.M."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "78 N.M. 86",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.M.",
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        5323819
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      "year": 1967,
      "opinion_index": 0,
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    {
      "cite": "83 N.M. 251",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.M.",
      "case_ids": [
        5341420
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      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1971,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nm/83/0251-01"
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:09:20.437308+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "HENDLEY and COWAN, JJ., concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "Manuela CONTRERAS, Appellant, v. NEW MEXICO HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, Appellee."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "OPINION\nSUTIN, Judge.\nManuela Contreras, 72 years of age, applied for assistance under the Public Welfare Act of 1937, ch. 18 as amended. The application was denied by a caseworker. Contreras appealed to the State Board of Health and Social Services and requested a fair hearing of the denial of assistance. A hearing was held. Thereafter, the hearing officer recommended that the appeal be upheld. Nevertheless, the Appeals Review Committee denied the application for financial assistance. Contreras appeals to this court under \u00a7 13-1-18.1, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Repl.Vol. 3, Supp.1971).\nWe reverse.\nThe sole reason the application was denied was \u201cInformation presented at the hearing was that [Contreras] had transferred property and the sales contract was worth $2,950 which was in excess of the allowable maximum under Agency regulations.\u201d We hold that the decision is not supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole as provided by \u00a7 13 \u2014 1\u2014 18.1 (D) (2), N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 1968, Poc.Supp.1971). We need not decide whether \u201csubstantial evidence in the record as a whole\u201d changes the traditional view of substantial evidence. See Kaiser Steel Corporation v. Property Appraisal Department, 83 N.M. 251, 490 P.2d 968 (Ct.App. 1971), and discussion therein. Even under the traditional approach [Tapia v. Panhandle Steel Erectors Co., 78 N.M. 86, 428 P.2d 625 (1967)] the evidence is not substantial.\nThe record of the hearing shows the following:\n1. On July 9, 1969, Manuela C. Avelar, a single woman, [now Contreras], for consideration paid, deeded real estate to Esther C. Boseheff.\n2. ' On December 29, 1969, Boseheff, by real estate contract, sold the property to Baca for $4,500.00, $1000 paid, and the balance of $3,500 to be paid at the rate of $50.-00 per month.\n3. On 'March 8, 1971, Contreras made her application for assistance. In answer to Item 43, \u201cincome from sale of property,\u201d the following words were written in a blank space: \u201cBal $2950 on contract.\u201d Thereafter, under monthly amounts, there was inserted \u201c$50.00.\u201d\n4. The caseworker read into evidence her letter of denial of the Contreras application. In part, it stated:\nI\u2019m sorry to inform you we must deny your application for financial assistance due to your contract right in excess of our standards of $1,200. This is the provision of the Department in Paragraphs 231.832B regarding Personal Property.\nShe further testified that she was not \u201cqualified as an expert to tell how much the face value\u201d of the contract was. \u201cIn other words \u2014 Not what it is actually worth, but what it says in the contract.\u201d\n5. Contreras offered in evidence without objection the written opinion of an attorney based upon his experience with similar real estate contracts that \u201cthis contract has a maximum cash value at this time of $1,200.00.\u201d\nThe hearing officer made findings and concluded that Mrs. Contreras did not sell property to become eligible; that Mrs. Contreras has income of $48.50 per month, and recommended that the appeal be upheld. It is noted that the escrow agent deducts $1.50 per month from the $50.00 payment, leaving a balance of $48.50 per month.\n\u201cAgency\u201d regulation 231.832B provides in part:\nTo be considered eligible on the condition of need the total personal property owned by the client may not exceed $1,200. The value of personal property owned in excess of this amount is considered a resource and is considered available to meet requirements if it is transferable. * * *\nThere was no evidence that Contreras owned the real estate contract. To the contrary, the payee under the contract is Esther C. Boseheff rather than Mrs. Contreras. Even if a reasonable inference could be drawn, which we do not concede, that Contreras owned the contract, the only competent evidence established a value not to exceed $1200.00. Additionally, there was no evidence of a present market for the contract. Furthermore, no where does the record show that the real estate contract had a \u201ctransferable\u201d value in excess of $1200.00. The only competent evidence as to \u201ctransferable\u201d value or actual worth is that the contract has a \u201cmaximum cash value\u201d of $1200.00. The denial of financial assistance is not supported by substantial evidence.\nThe parties agreed that $50.00 per month was not sufficient income to provide Contreras a reasonable subsistence compatible with decency and health.\nThis case is reversed. Mrs. Contreras is entitled to assistance in accordance with the hearing officer\u2019s findings.\nIt is so ordered.\nHENDLEY and COWAN, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "SUTIN, Judge."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Charles T. DuMars, Peter C. Mallery, Betty A. Camunez, Legal Aid Society of Albuquerque, Inc., Albuquerque, of counsel, for appellant.",
      "David L. Norvell, Atty. Gen., Robert J. Laughlin, Agency Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "494 P.2d 1391\nManuela CONTRERAS, Appellant, v. NEW MEXICO HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, Appellee.\nNo. 752.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nFeb. 25, 1972.\nCharles T. DuMars, Peter C. Mallery, Betty A. Camunez, Legal Aid Society of Albuquerque, Inc., Albuquerque, of counsel, for appellant.\nDavid L. Norvell, Atty. Gen., Robert J. Laughlin, Agency Asst. Atty. Gen., Santa Fe, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0574-01",
  "first_page_order": 700,
  "last_page_order": 701
}