Should kids be allowed to sue their parents?

ASTalumna06 · #1 03-05-2014, 02:40 PM

In this case, I think this girl feels completely entitled and doesn't understand how the world works. And if she was truly abused, I don't think she'd be looking to sue for college tuition.

http://www.today.com/moms/judge-deni...ey-2D79321954#

What say you, GCers? Would there ever be a reason to rule in favor of a child attempting to sue their parents?

DubaiSis · #2 03-05-2014, 03:03 PM

I think there would be times where a child could sue the parents, but in the teensy bit of information I heard about this story, I don't think so. Unless there was a contract of some kind promising college. Being born rich =/= any such contract.

DrPhil · #3 03-05-2014, 03:54 PM

Allowed? I guess they can file a lawsuit. A man sued a restaurant for not providing enough napkins.

Will it be successful? No.

NinjaPoodle · #4 03-05-2014, 04:02 PM

I think for serious situations i.e. mental physical abuse, etc.yes. For frivolous crap, no.

tuco99 · #5 03-05-2014, 07:40 PM

Obama should sue his father for abandoning him. His father should pay reparations.

WhiteRose1912 · #6 03-05-2014, 08:16 PM

CNN has some more information. In NJ, children aren't considered emancipated when they turn 18; her parents are still legally financially responsible for her. The first round of claims was denied on the basis that she's not in any kind of emergency where she would need funding right away, and the high school has agreed to cover her tuition, so tuition reimbursement from the parents is unnecessary. The parents have been investigated for abuse before, though nothing came of it. Another family (not her boyfriend's parents) felt her abuse claims were substantial enough that they are housing her and paying her legal fees. To me, that raises some questions.

The most interesting issue in all this for me, is if she's had a college fund set aside for her her entire life, can her parents decide to keep it at the last minute (a semester before attending college) because she's breaking house rules?

I'm hesitant to say anything either way. It sounds like the parents weren't doing anything wrong, but I've seen enough abusive, narcissistic parents who presented a good front that I wouldn't feel comfortable forming an opinion.

Psi U MC Vito · #7 03-05-2014, 10:13 PM

That is an interesting question about the college fund, and might depend on the exact nature of the fund.

About the abuse investigation, while I agree that raises some questions, DYFAS has a very very spotty reputation, both for under reaction and over reaction. So the simple fact they were investigated might mean nothing. *shrugs* I'm interested to see what happens here.

amanda6035 · #8 03-05-2014, 11:05 PM

If you think this is wrong, you are part of the problem.

MysticCat · #9 03-08-2014, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amanda6035

If you think this is wrong, you are part of the problem.

Wow.

Sorry, but I am not part of the problem just because I think Dave Ramsey is another radio hack who's found a niche and, at least in this case, doesn't know what he's talking about, but does know what his audience wants to hear. He should stick to financial advice (which I don't take from him either).

amanda6035 · #10 03-10-2014, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Wow.

I am not part of the problem ...

He should stick to financial advice.

Yeah. You are.

Have you paid attention to the story? It's about finances, and relationships.

Listen. I know you don't like Dave Ramsey. You come out with your bashing shovel every time I share something. I'm not going to stop sharing stories like this. Because while not everyone will admit it on here, someone, somewhere along the way might actually give a damn and learn something from him, and it's COMPLETELY worth pestering you if it helps someone else in the long run. If you don't like it, ignore it.

SWTXBelle · #11 03-10-2014, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amanda6035

Yeah. You are.

Have you paid attention to the story? It's about finances, and relationships.

Listen. I know you don't like Dave Ramsey. You come out with your bashing shovel every time I share something. I'm not going to stop sharing stories like this. Because while not everyone will admit it on here, someone, somewhere along the way might actually give a damn and learn something from him, and it's COMPLETELY worth pestering you if it helps someone else in the long run. If you don't like it, ignore it.

Gracious! (ness)

MysticCat · #12 03-10-2014, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amanda6035

Yeah. You are.

Have you paid attention to the story? It's about finances, and relationships.

Listen. I know you don't like Dave Ramsey. You come out with your bashing shovel every time I share something.

Huh? Maybe I've talked about him in one or two other threads, but it think that's it.

Quote:

I'm not going to stop sharing stories like this. Because while not everyone will admit it on here, someone, somewhere along the way might actually give a damn and learn something from him, and it's COMPLETELY worth pestering you if it helps someone else in the long run. If you don't like it, ignore it.

I think you missed my point. If you or others find Dave Ramsey's advice helpful, more power to you. I really have no problem with that. People are free to make choices that I don't make—if those choices work for them, then great. They're just not for me for a variety of reasons.

To be honest, the problem that I have with your posts on Ramsey isn't so much with Ramsey himself. It's the arrogance—sorry, but that's what it is—of suggesting that anyone who doesn't agree with Ramsey, and I guess with you, is "part of the problem" or doesn't give a damn.

See, I have no problem ignoring posts about Ramsey and advice from him. Your insults to those of us who don't agree with his perspectives or follow his advice by telling us we're part of the problem or stupid, when you have no clue as to how we parent or manage finances, is what's harder to ignore.

southbymidwest · #13 03-06-2014, 12:32 AM

What a mess.

Unless there is real abuse going on (and sorry, the old "my dad is being so mean he hates my boyfriend, he just doesn't understand" does not constitute abuse in my book), she has chosen to not abide by her parents' rules and has chosen to live as an adult. Fine. She cannot have it both ways, however. No one is owed a college education. There are plenty of kids who had/have to do it on their own for a number of reasons. And yes, the parents may have a college fund like we did, but had our girls decided to not go to college (or culinary school or whatever), then that fund would have become my re-do the kitchen and bathrooms fund.

OF course I say this while remembering the story about the girl at U of Cincinnati whose parents went off the deep end, started tapping her phone and computer, were stalking her, among other bizarre things, and ended up being hit with a restraining order, so you never know.

What bothers me the most though, is that the girl's friend's dad is the lawyer who initiated the lawsuit for her. She and her parents should be working with a counselor to figure it out, he is driving a larger, perhaps insurmountable wedge between her and her parents.

Dnpgopenguins · #14 03-06-2014, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southbymidwest

What a mess.

Unless there is real abuse going on (and sorry, the old "my dad is being so mean he hates my boyfriend, he just doesn't understand" does not constitute abuse in my book), she has chosen to not abide by her parents' rules and has chosen to live as an adult. Fine. She cannot have it both ways, however. No one is owed a college education. There are plenty of kids who had/have to do it on their own for a number of reasons. And yes, the parents may have a college fund like we did, but had our girls decided to not go to college (or culinary school or whatever), then that fund would have become my re-do the kitchen and bathrooms fund.

OF course I say this while remembering the story about the girl at U of Cincinnati whose parents went off the deep end, started tapping her phone and computer, were stalking her, among other bizarre things, and ended up being hit with a restraining order, so you never know.

What bothers me the most though, is that the girl's friend's dad is the lawyer who initiated the lawsuit for her. She and her parents should be working with a counselor to figure it out, he is driving a larger, perhaps insurmountable wedge between her and her parents.

I was abused by my parents. It annoyed me to no end when I was in high school and other girls would bitch about how horrible their parents were cause of something like you mentioned. No, that is not abuse, that is just parenting.
I think the problem with this issue is that we, at least me, don't really know what is going on. Speaking from experience pretty much everyone who knows my parents will defend them. Growing up I heard, 'Oh, your so lucky to have them as your parents." it was because of this that I did not understand that it was actual abuse. My point, you never know what is going on in someones house.

Do, you think that the friends parents are pressuring her or maybe have convinced the teen to sue her parents?

This topic is kinda of hard for me. I was abused, but also my parents kicked me out at 18 because I did not follow their rules. however, they decided that as their child I had to obey them. And because of this they decided that they wanted grandchildren and that I had to provide them these grandchildren. But, if you talked to my mom about this you would get a complete different story. The way she tells it is that i was an out of control teen who was running wild, disobeying God and doing whatever I wanted. Or my version, I was working and going to community college, planning on transferring to a 4 yr school so I could get away from my parents. My parents version is that I don't need a college education to have a baby so therefor I was disobeying them and God, you know cause I have to obey my parents.
I only say this cause there are ways to spin stories to make the other person sound like the bad person. I do have my own personal view on these things, but as objective as I can be I still don't feel like we know the whole story.
DNP

OPhiAGinger · #15 03-07-2014, 01:51 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your family situation, DNP, and I agree that none of us can fully understand the dynamics of that family. Hopefully the truth will come out in court.

But, in your situation which was truly an abusive one, do you feel like your parents owe you the cost of a college education? I think that's the part that is over the top and has people siding with the parents before they know the whole story.