State Ex Rel. Department of Human Services v. Huffman

NEELY, Chief Justice:

Gene Huffman married Becky Huffman on 22 November 1972. This marital congress produced three children — children whom the State would support when Gene Huffman abandoned his family from 7 November 1981 until April of 1984. After the Huffman’s reunited, the Department of Human Services tried to recoup $7,139 in Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits that it had paid to Becky to support the children during Gene’s absence. Today we decide what procedures the West Virginia Department of Human Services may use to recoup AFDC benefits from a recalcitrant but…