Hannah, of the popular HBO television show 'Girls' -- who, with a college degree at 23, was told by her parents that they will no longer give her money - is nothing compared to an 18 year-old teen who actually sued her own parents for cutting her off.
Rachel Canning, an honor student and cheerleader at Morris Catholic High School in Denville, New Jersey, claim that her parents abandoned her when she turned 18, forced her out of the house, and have refused to pay for her college expenses despite her acceptance letters from several universities.
Rachel filed the lawsuit last week in the Family Part of state Superior Court in Morristown, seeking for a court declaration that says she is non-emancipated and dependent on her parents for support. She claimed that both of her parents told her that as of her 18th birthday, which was November 1, they would cut off all financial and emotional support. She also alleged that her parents have redirected her college funds. She also said that Morris Catholic advised her not to go home, and called the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, believing Rachel's allegation that she has been abused.
Rachel left her parents' house shortly before she turned 18. Her tuition at Morris Catholic has already been paid by her parents, Sean and Elizabeth Canning, until December 31, but has not yet issued a check to cover the current dues since Rachel has left the house. Administrators of Morris Catholic say that Rachel has excellent grades and will not be kicked out because of unpaid tuition, but her parents still need to settle her outstanding bill worth $5,306.
Rachel has been living with the family of her best friend and schoolmate Jaime Inglesino, whose father, John Inglesino, happens to be a lawyer and former Morris County Freeholder. It is Inglesino who is funding the lawsuit, and has hired an attorney for the case, Tanya N. Helfand. The lawsuit includes a request that Rachel's parents pay the corresponding legal fees, which is currently at $12,597.
The other side of the story, however, gives a glimpse of a teenage tantrum gone overboard. Sean, Rachel's father, explained that Rachel moved out of the house because she did not want to abide by their simple household rules, which included a curfew, returning borrowed items to her two sisters, doing certain chores, and cut ties with a boyfriend that they believe is a bad influence.
Sean is a retired Lincoln Park police chief who currently works as Mt. Olive's township administrator. He fears that Rachel is being influences by the Inglesinos, who probably mean well but do not have all the information regarding the matter.
"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,' " said Sean Canning. He also clarified that her college funds have not been redirected and are still available to her. The Cannings are being represented by Laurie Rush-Masuret.
He also said that after the DCP&P representative visited his house to investigate the reported incident, and the said representative determined that Rachel was spoiled, and halted the investigation. He also said that Rachel was seeing a psychiatrist, and was on medication, even before she moved out. She had been having problems at school during the last term, she was suspended twice, she ignored her curfew, and bullied her younger sister.
Morris Catholic, however, seems to be taking Rachel's side. Aside from being the ones to call the DC&P on Rachel's behalf, one of Rachel's instructors submitted a letter saying that she was witness to a heated encounter between Rachel and her mother, Elizabeth. Elizabeth allegedly called her daughter a foul name and declared that she never wanted to speak with her daughter again.
In the state of New Jersey, a child is not automatically emancipated at the age of 18. Instead, he or she is emancipated until they are "on their own," clarified Sheldon Simon, a prominent family-law attorney.
In a preliminary hearing, Family Court Judge Peter Bogaard turned down Canning's request to have her parents temporarily resume paying around $600 towards her tuition and living expenses but he has set another hearing date for April to hear her application that her parents should bear her college tuition fees. The reason for turning down the request? "Do we want to establish a precedent where parents live in basic fear of establishing rules of the house?" Bogaard asked, adding, "A kid could move out and then sue for an Xbox, an iPhone, or a 60-inch television."
Hell hath no fury as Rachel Canning scorned. However, her parents have won the first round.
