Rachel Canning Returns Home After Suing Parents For Financial Support

Rachel Canning, the New Jersey teen who sued her parents for financial support after leaving the family in October, has returned home and is trying to reconcile with her mom and dad.

The 18-year-old High School senior told her parents that she was an adult and could do as she pleased when they attempted to enforce the rules of the house on her. This led to the teen — who has been labeled a “spoiled brat” in the media — to file a lawsuit asking for financial aid for college.

Attorney Angelo Sarno — who represents Elizabeth and Sean Canning — said in a statement Wednesday that even though the young woman hasn’t withdrawn the lawsuit, she has “reunited with her parents and siblings.”

Sarno added that the publicity surrounding the case deeply damaged the family and affected Rachel Canning’s siblings in a negative way because of the “reality TV” atmosphere that ensued due to the media attention, the attorney said.

During a press conference on Wednesday, when he announced the latest developments, Sarno said:

“They’re not athletes, they ‘re not actors. They didn’t ask for any of this. Everyone should be happy today. This is a happy situation.”

As to Rachel Canning’s parents, they welcomed their daughter back with relief and want to put the whole ordeal behind them saying, “it’s ancient history, it’s done.”

The teen filed a lawsuit to get her parents to pay for her college tuition and financial support which they refused to do, denying they had thrown her out of the house. Elizabeth and Sean Canning always maintained she left voluntarily into the home of her best friend, whose father — former Morris County Freeholder John Inglesino — helped her bring the suit forward after her parents refused to support her lifestyle.

A New Jersey Judge refused Rachel Canning’s request of financial aid last week and had scheduled a hearing for April to examine whether the parents were legally obligated to support their 18-year-old daughter.

According to testimony in the case, which has garnered national attention, Rachel’s misbehavior started after a period of time in which Elizabeth and Sean separated and reconciled. They finally put their foot down, so to speak, after she refused to follow simple house rules, such as a curfew, doing chores, being respectful, and getting rid of a boyfriend the mom and dad thought was a bad influence.

For her part, Rachel Canning — who left the house two days before her 18th birthday — accused her parents of being abusive towards her, contributed to her eating disorder, and forced her to get a basketball scholarship she didn’t want.

The spoiled girl demanded the parents pay the bill for her private school tuition at Morris Catholic High School, $650 per week in child support, her future college tuition, and reimburse her for all the legal fees she’d incurred in the suit against them.

Sean Canning blamed Inglesino for escalating the conflict, but the best friend’s dad says he supported the teen because she is a “terrific, extremely bright young lady.”

“Are we going to open the gates for 12-year-olds to sue for an Xbox? For 13-year-olds to sue for an iPhone?” State Superior Court Judge Peter Bogaard asked. “We should be mindful of a potentially slippery slope.”

The family is now asking for privacy as they try to work out their very public grievances with their daughter Rachel Canning.

[Image via Bing]