Teen sues parents for tuition, expenses:

[BiffSplitkins]

DENVILLE, N.J. (WABC) -- A high school senior in New Jersey, now 18 and an honor student, is suing her parents because they refuse to pay for the rest of her Catholic high school education and for college in the fall.

The girl claims she was kicked out of the house.

Now, she wants the court to order her parents to support her.

"It's going to be tough, it's going to be tough for me and my wife," said Sean Canning, Rachel's father.

Sean Canning says it's tearing his family apart.

His 18-year-old daughter, Rachel left home last year and is now suing him to pay for her living expenses and her college education.

"Are there privileges to living under my roof and my rules? Yeah, private schools, new car, college education, yeah, that's what comes with living under our roof," Canning said.

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Regardless, if she moved out on her own or was kicked out by her parents she is an adult at the age of 18. She sounds like a whiney, self-entitled brat and I feel very sorry for her parents.

[freetoroam]

If I were her parents, I would pay the fees and cut her out of the will.....you want your share, take it now and do not come back. I would donate everything to a pet charity.

[Leonardo]

Snog, Marry, Avoid?

[Ashotep]

She's 18, a adult and needs to act like one and learn to stand on her own two feet. She seems spoiled to me.

Its not clear if she was kicked out or if she left on her own because she didn't want to follow the rules and didn't want to help out around the house.

If her lawyer is so concerned about her education he is free to pay for it after all he took her in.

[spartan max2]

will anyone support me if I make it illegal to sue people over stupid sh$t?

Edited March 4, 2014 by spartan max2

[Hasina]

She sounds like a whiney, self-entitled brat and I feel very sorry for her parents.

Thanks Biff, didn't have to type my opinion.

[Taun]

When I was 17 my father sat me down and the conversation went like this:

Dad: "So... You're going to graduate high school this summer."

Me (proudly): "Yes sir." (I always called dad Sir and mom Ma'am... just the way we were brought up)

Dad: "You're going to turn 18 this summer as well."

Me: "Yes sir"

Dad: "Where are you going to live?"

brought me to reality very quickly...

Edited March 4, 2014 by Taun

[Gunn]

Regardless, if she moved out on her own or was kicked out by her parents she is an adult at the age of 18. She sounds like a whiney, self-entitled brat and I feel very sorry for her parents.

She probably is a whiney, self-entitled brat. But guess what? In most states of the United States, parents are usually held responsible for their child's education, until such child has finished his/her education, that includes college if the child wishes it.

Ask divorce parents who've payed child support by court order.

Edit: typo

Edited March 4, 2014 by Purifier

[Leonardo]

A high school senior in New Jersey, now 18 and an honor student, is suing her parents because they refuse to pay for the rest of her Catholic high school education and for college in the fall.

See what happens when you drop the "u" out of words?

It becomes all "me, me, me."

[Princess Serenity]

All I have to say is spoiled brat. I'm glad that I'm not that spoiled! I can't believe her friend's father is okay with this. >_< You're an adult. Act like one.

[Indiogene]

Is the teen girl realizing her parents can't afford the affluent preppie/upper-middle class lifestyle anymore and have to adjust to a new future as an adult. Well, in these hard economic times (and I thought the Great Recession ended in June 2009...5 years ago!) she's going to look for work (if available), seek a community/junior college (despite college degrees don't really help like they used to) and NO car to drive. The teen girl shouldn't frivolously sue her parents for bearing the brunt of their personal financial crises. The teen girl was "kicked out" of her home, which is a sad thing to face when the family is broke, and she couldn't find a friend to live with or lacked relatives nearby to assist her. The family needs to stick together, not break apart and they will overcome any obstacles in the way.

[BiffSplitkins]

She probably is a whiney, self-entitled brat. But guess what? In most states of the United States, parents are usually held responsible for their child's education, until such child has finished his/her education, that includes college if the child wishes it.

Ask divorce parents who've payed child support by court order.

Trust me, I know all about that. I had pay child support to my daughter until she turned 21. At the age of 18 her mom gave my daughter the bank card that all the support goes onto so she could use it the way she wanted to from that point forward. I had NO problems with that whatsoever. In fact, I was quite proud how she used the money. She bought a new car using a 4 year loan and had it paid off in only 2 years.

As far as paying for her college goes... I told her early on in life "Kid, you'd better get perfect grades and find some college grants because there is no way I can afford to help you out when it comes to paying for your education." She is currently living in her own apartment and still in college studying to become a M.D.. at the age of 23. I couldn't be more proud.

[+and-then]

When I was 17 my father sat me down and the conversation went like this:

Dad: "So... You're going to graduate high school this summer."

Me (proudly): "Yes sir." (I always called dad Sir and mom Ma'am... just the way we were brought up)

Dad: "You're going to turn 18 this summer as well."

Me: "Yes sir"

Dad: "Where are you going to live?"

brought me to reality very quickly...

Sounds like a recruiter's best friend

[coldethyl]

If she's spoiled the parents are to blame. Just like the oompa loompas said. lol

But yeah she sucks.

[Gunn]

Trust me, I know all about that. I had pay child support to my daughter until she turned 21. At the age of 18 her mom gave my daughter the bank card that all the support goes onto so she could use it the way she wanted to from that point forward. I had NO problems with that whatsoever. In fact, I was quite proud how she used the money. She bought a new car using a 4 year loan and had it paid off in only 2 years.

As far as paying for her college goes... I told her early on in life "Kid, you'd better get perfect grades and find some college grants because there is no way I can afford to help you out when it comes to paying for your education." She is currently living in her own apartment and still in college studying to become a M.D.. at the age of 23. I couldn't be more proud.

Same here, got one about to turn twenty in late March. But at eighteen she decided to not finish school and instead, went out into the working world to get a job. Didn't even get herself a GED and still hasn't yet. So the Child Support Agency ended my future obligations for child support. "Her choice" they said.

Not what I wanted, really. I would have liked to have seen her at least get her HS diploma at least and maybe go to a vo-tech afterwards.

EDIT: Doh! Typos...

Edited March 4, 2014 by Purifier

[coldethyl]

My husband pays child support even though he isn't court ordered. His child is at Wesley in Boston and if she worked hard enough to get there on scholarships then he's going to support her until she's out of school no matter how old she is.

My ex on the other hand has 2 in college and doesn't pay a dime. He quit paying when they turned 18 and didn't start college immediately. Of course he's remarried to a girl half his age he met on WoW who was preggers with some other guy's kid and he adopted that one and had another one. So he's 43 with 2 kids under 4 and our two aged 21 and 23. lol, moron.

[Gunn]

My husband pays child support even though he isn't court ordered. His child is at Wesley in Boston and if she worked hard enough to get there on scholarships then he's going to support her until she's out of school no matter how old she is.

My ex on the other hand has 2 in college and doesn't pay a dime. He quit paying when they turned 18 and didn't start college immediately. Of course he's remarried to a girl half his age he met on WoW who was preggers with some other guy's kid and he adopted that one and had another one. So he's 43 with 2 kids under 4 and our two aged 21 and 23. lol, moron.

Well you know, some guys just love to have more stress in their life.

Nah but seriously, your ex maybe like my daughter...just doesn't think ahead and rather live and learn the hard way. I've been trying for over two years now, in convincing her to get her GED. But she's decided to have a family now and about to be mother soon. Anyway, she's talking about going back to work after having her first child. Nothing wrong with her wanting to go back to working again, but still...I just wish she'd get that daggum GED while she's working. I know she could do it, but she lacks motivation.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Purifier

[Gunn]

Whoops! Nevermind.

Edited March 4, 2014 by Purifier

[spartan max2]

my parents aren't helping me with my college

guess I should sue em

[+and-then]

I just heard a report on Fox that the young lady was denied "child support" AND access to the college fund.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/03/04/new-jersey-teen-sues-parents-for-support-claiming-was-kicked-out-home/

Edited March 4, 2014 by and then

[Leonardo]

I'm rather curious as to why relatives of her "best friend" are funding her lawsuit?

Is there some aspect of her relationship with these "friend's relatives" we aren't being told? Considering the difference in tales of how she came to leave the family home (she says she was kicked out, the parents say she left voluntarily) perhaps we might consider she has lied to those people to get them to support her?

Edited March 5, 2014 by Leonardo

[little_dreamer]

I think this would set a dangerous legal precedent if she happened to win her case. It may all be for show to get a quick cash settlement outside of a courtroom. Now if the courts rule that the parents made a verbal contract to their child and broke the contract...

[little_dreamer]

Also this girl's name and photo have been shown around the world, in an unflattering manner. She may win thousands of dollars but lose her reputation for years. I wouldn't think it would be worth it, myself.

[Purplos]

Does it even matter if she was kicked out or left voluntarily if she is 18?

No one has a legal obligation to house, feed and cloth another adult, unless they are a legal guardian due to disability or such.

[Taun]

Does it even matter if she was kicked out or left voluntarily if she is 18?

No one has a legal obligation to house, feed and cloth another adult, unless they are a legal guardian due to disability or such.

In principal I agree with you... But the courts (in this country anyway) seem to think that a parents obligation is to bankrupt themselves for their (adult) kids

education... personally, I think that everyone would be way ahead of the game if the 'student' worked their own way through college/vo-tech or whatever...

It would take longer, but no one would be in such debt that it takes decades to clear it....