Ethan Couch, 17, was convicted of DUI manslaughter last year after killing four people, but benefited at sentencing from a counselor’s testimony describing him as a victim of “affluenza,” a condition in which children of wealthy families hopelessly feel “entitlement” and are prone to irresponsibility. In April, the Vernon, Texas, hospital providing Ethan’s court-ordered rehabilitation announced Ethan’s “wealthy” parents would nonetheless be billed for only about 6 percent of the cost of treating the “affluenza” — $1,170 of an anticipated $21,000 monthly tab — with Texas taxpayers picking up the remainder.
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