N.J. teen sues parents, claims they kicked her out

[eznutz]

A bitter family battle was playing out in a New Jersey courtroom Monday, as an 18-year-old student has sued her parents claiming they kicked her out and demanded she pay for her own college education.

In court papers, she alleged her parents abandoned her when she turned 18 and have now refused to pay for her to go to college - even though she has received acceptance letters from several universities.

But her father told a different story.

"I know Rachel is a) a good kid, b) an incredibly rebellious teen, and she's getting some terrible information," Sean Canning said.

He claimed Rachel ran away from home in November because she did not want to follow house rules.

"Living in our house, there's rules," he said. "There's minor chores. There's curfews - when I say curfew, it's usually after 11 o'clock at night."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nj-teen-sues-parents-claims-they-kicked-her-out/

 

[Aardvark154]

It is going to be an interesting case.

By the way if you've seen photographs the father looks like the former police chief he was, and I rather suspect attempted to treat an 18 year-old like a 13 year-old. Plus he either never had the experience himself or totally forgets what it was like - - no one whether 18 or 30 says 'oh obviously you are right' when a parent says your boyfriend/girlfriend is no good, it may well be true, but until the person in the relationship sees it for themselves, all the parent is doing is shouting 'rally to the flag,' to the couple.

 

[rhuarc29]

I don't see where the girl has any legal standing here. Since when are parents obligated to pay college tuition? Or to provide room and board when their children hit 18?

I can sympathize with the father. Teenage girls are just as stupid as teenage boys, just in different ways. Of course, the way he went about protecting her is the perfect way to ensure a girl like that will rebel. Tell a girl of that age what she can't have and she'll do everything in her power to get it, ignoring all the probable negative consequences.

 

[mandrill]

Canadian law will look at how reasonable the respective behaviours were of the parents and child. It's entirely possible that dad will be on the hook for a couple more years, despite the tension.

 

[Aardvark154]

Canadian law will look at how reasonable the respective behaviours were of the parents and child. It's entirely possible that dad will be on the hook for a couple more years, despite the tension.

From what I understand of family law in New Jersey the parents may well be on the hook.

They may not like her attitude but she is a good student with Scholarship/Bursary offers from several Universities. They have encouraged and are aware of her University academic aspirations.

 

[Aardvark154]

Well more to the story apparently some really nasty recorded phone calls from the daughter to her parents came out in court today. The Judge was not at all pleased.


Yet another example of that political maxim "Never write if you can speak; never speak if you can nod; never nod if you can wink."