(Morristown, NJ)  An 18-year-old New Jersey high school honor student who claims her parents kicked her out of her home once she legally became and adult, is now suing her parents for support and college tuition.

The judge in this landmark case immediately ruled against the student, Rachel Canning, giving her the discipline and ‘no’ she’s likely needed for a long time.  Canning was asking the court to force her father to pay $650 weekly child support, pay for the remaining year of private school tuition at her Catholic high school, and full college tuition.  Judge Peter Bogaard scheduled a hearing for next month to decide whether to require her parents to pay for Canning’s college tuition, but has ruled against her other two financial requests.

“Do we want to establish a precedent where parents live in basic fear of establishing rules of the house?” Bogaard asked.

The concern is that this lawsuit would open the floodgates for potentially more frivolous cases from spoiled kids, especially in this era of entitlement among teens.  Judge Bogaard remarked, “A kid could move out and then sue for an XBOX, an iPhone or a 60-inch television.”. 

Court filings demonstrate tension between the teen and her parents that may have contributed to Rachel wanting to leave her home.  Accusations and denials are prevalent throughout the documents which describe a tumultuous stretch of time when her parents separated and reconciled, leading to the teen getting into uncharacteristic trouble at school, including boyfriends and alcohol use.  Evidence proves the girl left home Oct. 30, two days before she turned 18.

Canning’s parents, retired Lincoln Park police Chief Sean Canning and his wife Elizabeth, said their daughter voluntarily left home because she refused to abide by reasonable household rules, which included being respectful, keeping a curfew, doing a few chores and ending a relationship with a boyfriend her parents say is a bad influence. According to the Cannings, Rachel left the home shortly before she turned 18, telling her parents that she was about to be an adult and could do whatever she wanted.

Rachel claims her parents had been abusive to her, contributed to her developing an eating disorder, and were relentless on her earning a basketball scholarship.  Her parents lament they were endlessly supportive of her, helped her through the eating disorder, and paid her private school tuition where she would not have as much basketball time as she would have at a public school.  The teen’s parents also assert that Rachel has lied in both her court filings and to child welfare workers involved in the case.

Rachel’s parents are heartbroken over this ordeal and want nothing more than for their wayward child to return home.  The love her dearly and want to parent her through this rough time in life she’s currently experiencing.

Rachel Canning has been living in Rockaway Township, NJ with the family of her best friend. The friend’s father, former Morris County Freeholder John Inglesino, is paying for the lawsuit.  Inglesino claims to have committed to the suit on her behalf because he fears Rachel will lose opportunities for a strong education and a happy future without her parents’ contributions.

Rachel Canning is seeking immediate financial support and wants to force her parents to pay for her college education and more than $5,000 owed for her last semester at Morris Catholic High School. She also wants a judge to declare that she’s non-emancipated and dependent as a student on her parents for support.

[ Source: Daily Record ]