Guidotti

In this appeal from a summary judgment, plaintiff Jean Guidotti and other general assistance recipients in Yolo County challenge a resolution by the Board of Supervisors of Yolo County which establishes the grant levels of aid for general assistance.

Plaintiffs had filed a class action suit against Yolo County (County) for declaratory and injunctive relief, or in the alternative for a peremptory writ of mandate. The action called into question County’s standards of general assistance relief and sought retroactive benefits, alleging County had failed during the prior three years to meet its mandatory duty to support its indigent residents as required by Welfare and Institutions Code section 17000. The trial court found plaintiffs had presented significant evidence that County’s general assistance standards were inadequate and ordered County to conduct a study of minimum subsistence needs and to adjust the standards. The court denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, finding it had no power to order County to pay retroactive benefits. After conducting a study and adopting new standards of aid, County moved for summary judgment on the basis it had complied with…