Opinion ID: 1392599
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Equal Treatment of Class Members

Text: Equal protection also requires that the members are treated alike under similar circumstances and conditions. Samson, supra . Doe argues that the statute treats potential plaintiffs differently because it imposes a limitation only on those whose actual damages exceed the limitation. Doe further asserts that because of the difference in size and income among charities, the statute will impact differently on charitable organizations. We find that although the impact of $200,000 damage judgment may vary according to the size of the charitable organization, the varying impact does not violate the equal protection clause. See generally, Duke Power Co. v. South Carolina Public Service Commission , 284 S.C. 81, 326 S.E. (2d) 395 (1985) (utility rate differential among class members did not violate the equal protection clause). Moreover, we find that potential plaintiffs are not treated disparately because the same monetary cap applies equally to the entire class of plaintiffs.