State ex rel. Secretary of Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services v. Cook

Knudson, J.:

The defendant, Willie Cook, appeals from the district court’s order granting the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) a money judgment of $3,453.80 for assistance expended on behalf of his minor child, D.C. The pivotal issue on appeal is whether Cook was denied due process of law because the district court refused to consider his equitable defenses of age, station in life, and inability to pay.

We reverse and remand for further consideration of Cook’s equitable defenses based upon the evidentiary transcript of proceedings held on January 6, 2000.

The underlying…