Commissioner of Social Services v. C. C.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Seymour Friedman, J.

In this case the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York, who is the assignee of the petitioner, is seeking to declare the respondent, C. C., the father of the infant herein. It has been the practice of the commissioner to warn— indeed — threaten the mothers of infants receiving aid. The mothers are told, in cases where they receive welfare benefits, that if they refuse to "co-operate” with the commissioner’s office in the prosecution of these actions their benefits would be cut off. In the first instance, in no way may the commissioner…