Rachel Canning 'Spoiled,' Says Judge Before Dismissing Claim for Weekly Child Support
Rachel Canning had her first day in court and was called "spoiled" by the judge, who also denied her request for child support and payment for her private high school. Another hearing is set to further examine the case, but the family is still distraught over the proceedings.
"Do we want to establish a precedent where parents live in basic fear of establishing rules of the house? If they set a rule a child doesn't like, the child can move out, move in with another family, seek child support, cars, cell phone, and a few hundred grand to go to college" Judge Peter Bogaard said from the bench. Reports also state that Judge Bogaard referred to Rachel, 18, as "spoiled" upon denying her request for $650 in weekly child support.
"Have you ever in your experience seen such gross disrespect for a parent? I don't see it in my house," Judge Bogaard said after reading an explicit message from Rachel to her mother, Elizabeth. "What kind of parents would the Cannings be if they didn't try to set down some strict rules? I think everyone needs to take a step back and realize this family and Rachel in particular are well worth the effort to salvage or attempt to."
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Rachel brought the suit against her parents after leaving home in October. She claims she was "abandoned" and kicked out of the home, while her father, Sean, says that she left because she no longer wanted to follow their rules. Rachel also claimed that she was abused and cannot support herself, which is why she wants the money to pay for her private high school as well as college.
"My parents simply will not help me any longer," Rachel said in court documents. "They want nothing to do with me and refuse to even help me financially outside the home although they certainly have the ability to do so. I am unable to support myself and provide for my food, shelter, clothing, transportation and education."
She has been staying with a friend, whose father is funding the lawsuit against her parents. Rachel's family maintains that they want her to return home.
"They are distraught that their oldest daughter feels that litigation is a better option than living together as a family. To be clear, my clients never abandoned nor abused their child and they have asked her to come home," lawyer Laurie Rush-Masuret said during the hearing.
Judge Bogaard reportedly told the court that there was little evidence to support Rachel's claim of abandonment and abuse. The family will next be in court on April 22 to hear whether Rachel's parents will have to pay her college tuition. Until then, Rachel will receive no support from her parents.
