Morrell v. Flaherty

WHICHARD, Justice.

Plaintiff Loretta Morrell brought this class action as guardian ad litem for two plaintiffs, minor children Jonathan and Joshua Long, to challenge the validity of a policy promulgated by the North Carolina Division of Social Services (hereinafter “DSS”) under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (hereinafter “AFDC”). The trial court held that the policy — which requires that a needy caretaker relative and all needy children, siblings and non-siblings, when living in the same household, be included in the same AFDC assistance unit — violated federal AFDC…