Should kids be allowed to sue their parents?

[Kevin]

This thread and that anyone would be interested in this is just kind of creepy. This is a family going through a rough time. I've seen weird and I've seen worse. The only wrinkle here is that she is 18, which according to my limited research of NJ law, there was probably a smarter approach for this young lady. In NJ, you are not deemed an adult simply because you are 18 for the purposes of the parents' duty to support their child. It might have been appropriate here to file for guardianship.

And please.. just don't believe the allegations on one side of the case. I have seen very few cases (as a lawyer who has done hundreds of family law/custody cases where the Judge could take either party completely at their word. In family law cases more than anyplace else, parties are lying manipulative bastards. Even as the attorney, it's hard to tell when your client is being truthful sometimes.

This family deserves privacy. Calling her "princess" is really uncalled for. You've read some snarky editorialized BS, from Fox News of all places and have made your mind up. That is always ill-advised.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Kevin

This thread and that anyone would be interested in this is just kind of creepy. This is a family going through a rough time.

This family deserves privacy.

I think the whole privacy thing went right out the window when this hit the national news.

Again, I don't presume to know anything about their situation, but the fact that the daughter is suing for college tuition is what bothers me, for the reasons I've stated previously.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I think the whole privacy thing went right out the window when this hit the national news.

Decent folks would have the good sense to not take sides and judge these people.

Again, I don't presume to know anything about their situation, but the fact that the daughter is suing for college tuition is what bothers me, for the reasons I've stated previously.

Oh hell.. I can't tell you how many times I've had some Dr's wife sue for college tuition for the kids (not something a court can order). If a Dr's wife is going to do it, why is an 18 year old doing it worse? I don't know whether that's something you can do in NJ. If it is, why not sue for it also? If not, the lawyer should have known better. I don't blame the kid for that either way.

[amanda6035]

Any child who thinks that her parents owe her a college education simply for breathing is a spoiled little princess. You live at home and obey mom and dad's rules, and don't break the law by underage drinking, and defying a curfew and a bad news boy, or you leave home and face the real world. The real world does not mean begging for money because you didn't think your plan the whole way through before you ran off out of defiance. If you're going to run off at 18, you'd better have a plan for surviving in the big bad tough world of being an adult. That does not mean pitching a hissy fit because you didn't get your way and suddenly you had no way to pay for the college education you assumed would be handed to you on a silver platter.

If MY child left home because she was too big for her britches and didn't want to follow rules I had established for her own protection, there's no way I'l lovingly pay for an education that she would piss away by drinking and getting into trouble with bad news boys.

I left home at 18. It was after I graduated, but I had a plan. It was called the military. I didn't have to worry about mom and dad holding tuition fees over my head. The military took care of me. I had a place to sleep, food to eat, and a job to do that brought in a paycheck.

Don't you find it odd that she hasn't been home in months and now that this has hit the news suddenly, she's home?

Sure, there's alot of "what ifs" that we don't know about, but it's all pretty suspicious. Yep, the media is fabulous at spinning stories in a negative light 99% of the time.... but no matter who the target was in this case, it wouldnt have been good for either side.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Decent folks would have the good sense to not take sides and judge these people.

I'm not "taking sides". I'm analyzing what's been presented to me.

Oh hell.. I can't tell you how many times I've had some Dr's wife sue for college tuition for the kids (not something a court can order). If a Dr's wife is going to do it, why is an 18 year old doing it worse? I don't know whether that's something you can do in NJ. If it is, why not sue for it also? If not, the lawyer should have known better. I don't blame the kid for that either way.

Doctor's wife? I must have missed that part of the story. When did I address that? I'm responding to THIS story.

As I said, no one should be entitled to receive a college education. Not this girl or anyone else.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

I'm not "taking sides". I'm analyzing what's been presented to me.

And that is the problem.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Kevin

And that is the problem.

Isn't that literally what you do for a living?

I feel like I missed something. Why is it a no-no to talk about this news story? To be frank, I couldn't care less about this girl and her family, but it IS a national news story (and not by our doing) so if folks choose to discuss it, it's their prerogative.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Isn't that literally what you do for a living?

I feel like I missed something. Why is it a no-no to talk about this news story? To be frank, I couldn't care less about this girl and her family, but it IS a national news story (and not by our doing) so if folks choose to discuss it, it's their prerogative.

I think Kevin's point is the problem of passing judgment on the people involved as if we know everything there is to know about the situation when we don't.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Isn't that literally what you do for a living?

I feel like I missed something. Why is it a no-no to talk about this news story? To be frank, I couldn't care less about this girl and her family, but it IS a national news story (and not by our doing) so if folks choose to discuss it, it's their prerogative.

First, I'm a lawyer, not a judge, so I don't pass judgment on people, I try to get someone else to. Technicalities matter! Second, when I do this, I know as much, if not more than anyone involved and I am in a very good place to be making recommendations to the Court based on my research and knowledge of the law and knowledge of the facts, neither of which anyone has command of here. You took some snarky editorialized Fox Newsish piece and piled on.

And... this is news? Really?

[33girl]

Dnp - there are groups out there that help child stars whose parents have usurped their money. Google Paul Peterson. I know that isn't the same thing, but they may be able to help you.