A judge has ruled against a New Jersey teen who sparked criticism when she sued her parents for tuition and support after leaving home.

At a hearing Tuesday in New Jersey State Superior Court, Judge Peter Bogaard denied a request by Rachel Canning, 18, to have her parents cover living expenses and tuition for her last semester at her private Catholic high school, CNN reports.

Canning, however, is also suing to have her parents cover her college tuition, and the case will resume in April when the judge is expected to take up the matter then.

The lawsuit continues to draw strong criticism, particularly on social media, with detractors characterizing the honors student and cheerleader as entitled, spoiled and rebellious.

Canning, of Lincoln Park, alleges in her lawsuit that she left home because of psychological mistreatment by her parents, who have said they are heartbroken by her use of the legal system and want her to come home. She left in October, staying with a boyfriend for a time but is now reportedly living with her best friend.

"I have been subjected to severe verbal and physical abuse by my mother and father," Canning, who attends Morris Catholic High School, alleged in court filings. "I am not willingly and voluntarily leaving a reasonable situation at home to make my own decisions. I had to leave to end the abuse."

Her parents, Sean and Elizabeth Canning, have denied any abuse, and an investigation by the state's Division of Child Protection and Permanency determined her allegations were "unfounded."

They noted in their own response to her lawsuit that their daughter ran away after they disciplined her after she was suspended from school for truancy. They reportedly took away her car and phone and told her she could no longer see her boyfriend.

Elizabeth Canning noted in court documents that she and her husband, a retired police chief, had always been a sturdy "support team" for their daughter, who "took it upon herself to run away so that she could live her life without any parental supervision and without any rules."

In her filing, Rachel Canning said that after she fled, her parents cut her off.

"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," the teen claimed.

It's been discussed here also: https://www.sport-touring.org/index.php?topic=187.msg21078#msg21078

I wish I had been smart enough to go into porn to pay for undergrad.

Like anything else, she (the teen) should be bound by the rules of burden of proof. Sadly, speaking from experience, that seems to often be completely and wholly disregarded in family court.

Also, in most states, 18 is the age of emancipation, barring "unusual circumstances". So, in that regard, she's out of luck (if her state is like DE and PA)

My daughter remains awesome. She was just accepted into the college of her choice!

If anyone needs me, I'll be down by the docks blowing sailors to make the $$$ to pay for two kids in college.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Quote from: coucours grad on March 05, 2014, 08:05:57 PM

Quote from: Cookie on March 05, 2014, 07:33:43 PM

My daughter remains awesome. She was just accepted into the college of her choice!

If anyone needs me, I'll be down by the docks blowing sailors to make the $$$ to pay for two kids in college.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

My Son is like that Cookie.....


I still think both of them were worth the time effort and gray hair to raise.


Both of them are something to be proud of for different reasons.


Keep her close and both let a whole day pass without her hearing from you.

BUT, In case no one has told  told you lately....


I hope you realize just how lucky you are.

Then I'm lucky twice.


But then again; lucky or proper parenting? That's the million dollar question. Isn't it?

As a cop I've seen kids with great parents turn out to be crap and I've seen other kids with really nobody raising them turn into awesome adults. It's really up to the kids what THEY want to be - we can only guide them through THEIR decisions.

I best stay out of this one, my 14 & 16 year old daughters are fantastic (so far) but I'll voice my opinion on parenting in another 10 years.

I personally believe that had there been a paddle in this girls childhood, things would have been very different for her. 

I took an open hand to the face (twice in rapid succession) when I was 8 years old and I can honestly say that it changed my life forever.  Turns out you don't talk back to your dad and he IS, in fact, right. 
Might not work for everyone but it worked for me and many people I talked to w/ similar experiences. 

Though, in my experiecne, the worst (Middle School) is over.

Quote from: CLAY on March 06, 2014, 08:35:22 PM

Hey!  Those are my favorites!  (of course I send them home at the end of the day)   

Do they have a lump on the head from the lead pipe?