Rachel Canning, 18, Suing Parents for 'Abandonment' - Father Responds With Love
An 18-year-old New Jersey native is causing havoc within her family after suing them for allegedly turning their backs on her and denying her money for college. Rachel Canning's parents are now speaking out and giving their side of things.
"We're being sued by our child," Sean Canning, Rachel's dad, told CBS New York. "I'm dumbfounded, so is my wife, so are my other daughters. I know Rachel is a good kid, an incredibly rebellious teen, and she's getting some terrible information."
According to Sean, Rachel ran away from home in November because she did not want to follow the house rules. Since then she has stayed with a friend's family, and that family includes John Inglesino, who is paying for Rachel's lawsuit. Rachel does not want to be emancipated from her family because that would leave her with all the costs of living on her own and paying for college but merely wants to be recognized and receive the money for school.
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"We love Rachel and wish she would wake up," Sean posted on Facebook. "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."
Court papers state that Rachel claims her parents abandoned her and refuse to pay for college, even though she has a scholarship and several acceptance letters from various universities. Rachel and her parents will be in court today to learn what the next steps will be. Under New Jersey law, the family does have an obligation to support Rachel if she cannot stand on her own.
"My parents have rationalized their actions by blaming me for not following their rules," the papers state. "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."
CPS got involved in the case after Rachel's high school informed them that she had made allegations of abuse and there were "difficult meetings between Rachel and Mr. Canning," according to Morris Catholic high school president Michael St. Pierre. However, Michael noted that the CPS agent found no signs of abuse and called Rachel "spoiled."
"We love our child and miss her," Sean said.
