Freestone v. Cowan

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge:

This case involves a class action brought by custodial parents, primarily mothers, and their children who have been unable to obtain federally required child support enforcement services from the state of Arizona. The class members sued under § 1983 in an attempt to force the state to comply with its federal obligations, under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, to identify and seek support from “deadbeat dads.” The federal courts have splintered on the question of whether a § 1983 action is available to enforce Title IV-D. The district court adopted the reasoning…