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Constitutional Law-Equal Protection-Relatives' Responsibility Statutes Do Not Create A "Suspect" Classification Based On Wealth

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This note discusses Swoap v. Superior Court - a case brought by two recipients of aid to the aged and their adult children who challenged the constitutionality of two state statutes. One imposed a general duty of support on the children of parents unable to support themselves. The other gave county officials a cause of action against the children to compel contribution to the public assistance given by the state to the needy parents. The plaintiffs argued this was discrimination based on wealth class. The court concluded that it wasn't discrimination based on wealth but on percentage but why discrimination …