“Abandoned” daughter or “spoiled brat”? Teen sues her parents for cutting off tuition

ABC News in the US has reported that a New Jersey court judge ruled that Rachel Canning’s parents do not have to pay their daughter’s outstanding school fees, nor provide financial support for her transportation costs and lifestyle.
He delayed a ruling on whether the parents will be required to pay their daughter’s college tuition.
The judge asked the court to consider whether it was a sensible idea to “establish precedent where parents live in fear of establishing rules of the house?”
The next hearing will be on April 22.

Making them pay: New Jersey high school cheerleader Rachel Canning is suing her parents claiming they kicked her out of the house on her 18th birthday and have cut her off 'financially and emotionally'

 

In happier times: Rachel claims her father Sean Canning was inappropriately affectionate. But a Department of Families and Children inquiry cleared him of allegations of abuse

cont. reading after the cut

Well, this one’s a doozy.
One family’s dinner-table fights are making headlines across the world, after an American teenager decided to sue her parents for financial support after ‘running away from home’.

Rachel Canning, a high school senior, says her parents threw her out of home when she turned 18. Her father, Sean Canning, says that she was an “incredibly rebellious teen” who ran away when given an ultimatum between following house rules and dumping her boyfriend, or leaving the house.
Rachel’s parents wanted her to dump her boyfriend because they thought he was a ‘bad influence’ – so that one’s a bit subjective – but the rest of the rules Rachel refused to abide by, included doing chores and keeping a curfew, seem pretty legit.

Since the alleged “abandonment”, Rachel has been living with the family of one of her friends – and in fact, the father of that household is funding her lawsuit and paying the fees of Rachel’s attorney, Tanya N. Helfand.

Helfand is asking that Rachel’s parents pay an outstanding debt of $5,306 to her former high school, pay Rachel’s living/transportation costs and commit to a college education fund.
Rachel’s father, Sean Canning, says that Rachel is being “enabled” by her friend’s family, who probably mean well but don’t understand the circumstances of her leaving home.

Mother and daughter: Rachel further claimed in court papers that her mother Liz called her 'porky' and that Rachel went on to suffer from bulimia. Mrs Canning said this is not true and she supported her

The dauli record has reported that Sean Canning said, “We love our child and miss her. This is terrible. It’s killing me and my wife. We have a child we want home. We’re not Draconian and now we’re getting hauled into court. She’s demanding that we pay her bills but she doesn’t want to live at home and she’s saying, ‘I don’t want to live under your rules.”

“Sean Canning also says that his daughter’s college is fund is still available to her, and has not been withdrawn as alleged in the lawsuit.”

“We’re heartbroken, but what do you do when a child says ‘I don’t want your rules but i want everything under the sun and you to pay for it?""
 

Spoiled? Sean Canning, right, admits a state worker visited the home just prior to Rachel's, center, alleged 'abandonment,' but that the official found the teen simply to be 'spoiled'

Sean Canning also says that his daughter’s college is fund is still available to her and has not been withdrawn as alleged in the lawsuit.
The story then gets a bit more complicated, as Rachel only decided to go ahead with the lawsuit, after her school advised her not to go home and contacted the Division of Child Protection and Permanency on her behalf.
 

Sean Canning and his wife Amy have stopped paying Rachel's Catholic school tuition and now owe over $5,000

Rachel reportedly alleged abuse on the part of her parents when talking to her school, although it is not clear exactly what her claims are. In her court papers Rachel only said that, “They stopped paying my high school tuition to punish the school and me and have redirected my college fund, indicating their refusal to afford me an education as a punishment.”
Sean Canning says that a representative from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency then visited their house but came to the conclusion that Rachel was “spoiled”. Her parents have also said that Rachel was in therapy and supposed to be taking medication at the time when she moved out of home.
Honestly, we’re a little confused by this whole situation.
Is this the case of a bright young girl attempting to strike out on her own and make it to college, and escape from her parents’ draconian and overbearing influence in her life? Or is it the case of a selfish and bratty teen not wanting to do chores around the house, but still wanting her parents top fund her lifestyle? OR is this just a family dispute that should be resolve in private?
 
 

The case will be heard today, we’ll keep you updated as further details come to light.

  

 

The father of Rachel's friend, attorney john Inglesino (pictured) says he and his wife are helping her sue her parents because without her parents, 'Rachel's ability to fulfill her potential will be greatly diminished'

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