Derouin v. State Department of Public Welfare

By way of objection to the proceedings the appellant contends:(1) There is no liability either at common law or otherwise upon the father of a mentally deficient minor child for the maintenance of such child in a public institution, except as such liability flows from sec. 46.10, Stats., and as that section is in derogation of the common law it must be construed strictly in favor of the father;(2) Said sec. 46.10, Stats., creates no fixed and absolute liability of the parent for maintenance of his minor child in a public institution;(3) Said sec. 46.10, Stats., is purely prospective in its…