Vanthournout v. Burge

This appeal challenges the constitutionality of the Illinois Parental Responsibility Law (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 70, pars. 51 through 57). The plaintiff, John Vanthournout, filed a small claims complaint against the defendant, Don Burge, for damage to the plaintiff’s automobile which occurred when defendant’s 11-year-old son took the plaintiff’s car. The trial court found that defendant’s minor son willfully drove plaintiff’s automobile off the road causing property damage and entered judgment against defendant in the sum of *498.72 plus court costs. The defendant has challenged the…