Daughter sues parent for College Tuition and wins.

[AznAnarchy99]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/b...st_pay_for_daughter_s_NJ_college_tuition.html

They agreed to pay her community college fees and in the end did not want to pay the $906. She sued and won.

Then she went after them for the Temple tuition.

The Grandparents apparently haven't talked to the father in years so its kinda strange that they would send her to live with them.

Also dad makes $275k + a year.

 

[vi edit]

How does a middle school teacher and a high school basketball coach make almost 300k a year? Don't add up.

 

[MrPickins]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/b...st_pay_for_daughter_s_NJ_college_tuition.html

They agreed to pay her community college fees and in the end did not want to pay the $906. She sued and won.

Then she went after them for the Temple tuition.

The Grandparents apparently haven't talked to the father in years so its kinda strange that they would send her to live with them.

Also dad makes $275k + a year.

Not really:

Rochester, Caitlyn Ricci's attorney, said the parents' combined household income was more than $272,000 a year.

So the household incomes of each parent (and their new spouses) is ~135k each.

Regardless, I feel that the parents' money is their money. She decided she didn't want to honor the terms of the agreement the parents set forth, so she deserves nothing.

 

[Kev]

Devil's advocate here.

If the parents' household makes 272k per year and they refuse to help their daughter with tuition, they are screwing her over big time. That income level removes any hope of her getting considered for financial aid.

She still seems like an entitled brat though. The parents and daughter deserve each other.

 

[vi edit]

I still question that income. That's more than most Principals/Superintendents make. And this is a middle school teacher and a basketball coach. Neither are exactly money bag jobs. That number has to be based off that inflated payroll + total benefits = total compensation number that is inflated by 2x or more by most employers.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Not really:



So the household incomes of each parent (and their new spouses) is ~135k each.

Regardless, I feel that the parents' money is their money. She decided she didn't want to honor the terms of the agreement the parents set forth, so she deserves nothing.

I agree but the system is kind of fucked up. Even though she doesn't live with them, because she is under 23, she has to claim her parent's income and with the amount that they make, she would get no financial aid.

There are loop holes, such as since her parents are divorced she could technically only claim one of them, but at $135k she still would get nothing.

My parents didn't pay any of my tuition but I survived with financial aid and since I haven't lived with my father in years I never claimed him.

 

[PenguinPower]

I still question that income. That's more than most Principals/Superintendents make. And this is a middle school teacher and a basketball coach. Neither are exactly money bag jobs. That number has to be based off that inflated payroll + total benefits = total compensation number that is inflated by 2x or more by most employers.

Michael Ricci, a senior account manager

Senior Account Managers can easily make 120k base depending on industry and location. Tack on bonus and the other household income and it's not at all unrealistic.

 

[Strk]

I still question that income. That's more than most Principals/Superintendents make. And this is a middle school teacher and a basketball coach. Neither are exactly money bag jobs. That number has to be based off that inflated payroll + total benefits = total compensation number that is inflated by 2x or more by most employers.

It could have just been bad reporting. They said household income of the parents and both parent has remarried. That $272k could be the income of four people, which isn't that much for New Jersey.

 

[sourceninja]

I agree but the system is kind of fucked up. Even though she doesn't live with them, because she is under 23, she has to claim her parent's income and with the amount that they make, she would get no financial aid.

There are loop holes, such as since her parents are divorced she could technically only claim one of them, but at $135k she still would get nothing.

My parents didn't pay any of my tuition but I survived with financial aid and since I haven't lived with my father in years I never claimed him.

My wife and I have a combined income of well over 100k per year and I was still able to get deferred loans to go back to school. She might not get free money, but she can sure as hell get loans to go to school, and then get a job to pay those loans.

 

[rommelrommel]

I will admit that I harbour a bit of hard feelings regarding my parents attitude, I was promised help if I got the grades to go to a good university, and when I did they didn't give me any financial assistance, had actually spent the money that I had saved from summer jobs and Christmas money over the years and refused to replace it (wasn't much but still), and the only "assistance" they offered was letting me live at home so I could have a 1.5 hour drive each way. I also got SFA in loans because they had a decent income.

Still, I would never sue them in a million years.

 

[Bartman39]

Ok one thing I am not understanding is she is 21 as of now... This started back when she was no more than 19-20 years old correct...?

Ok so how is it that she is an adult and can sue here parents for school...? I mean like is it normal for a person that is 18 to be on their own...?

 

[amicold]

Bartman the thing is when you apply for financial aid (including loans subsidized or not) your parents income is considered yours until 24ish. So at best she qualifies for unsubsidized federal loans. I think that is probably what won her case.

 

[steppinthrax]

That's an incredibly entitled attitude.

Your parents are "pieces of shits" because after 18 years of supporting you they decided that you needed to be responsible for your own education? Obviously I don't know your parents, but if that alone is enough to label them "pieces of shits" I rather think the issue is with you and not them.

Is there anything else "good" parents need to do in your entitled fantasyland? Perhaps they should also pay for new cars and houses for their adult children? I mean, the "kid" needs a place to live and a car to drive, obviously "good" parents would do that! They should probably also pay for their "kid's" retirement, it's really just not fair for the "kid" to need to save for themselves.

Hell, the REALLY "good" parents will just take it upon themselves to do the work for their "kids," we certainly don't want to burden them with the stress of needing to find employment, and perform difficult tasks under the pressure of deadlines.

As I see it parents are increasingly being guilted (or as in cases like this legally obligated) into supporting their children farther and farther into adulthood, while at the same time being stripped of the rights to discipline and guide children even before age of majority, and getting completely shafted into supporting an adult child who has all the privileges of adulthood but can pass the burdens of responsibility onto the parents. To my mind this is nonsense; if children want to having mommy and daddy pay for college, then the law needs to be adjusted to change when they are legally considered adults - you don't want the burden, you don't get the privileges.

My parents are pieces of shit for a magnitude of reasons beyond just college tuition. Being responsible and providing support are two different things.... I'm sure if college tuition was $25.00 a semester parents would happily pay this. But, money is the main factor, for which why this becomes a issues with parents/kids.

Parents are guilted into providing support when they make a salary that disallows financial aid (FAFSA), but yet won't assist. No, I don't feel many kids today feel entitled. I think it's pretty easy for many to say this.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

My wife and I have a combined income of well over 100k per year and I was still able to get deferred loans to go back to school. She might not get free money, but she can sure as hell get loans to go to school, and then get a job to pay those loans.

Upper grad? What age group? I've had a few friends that their parents made too much money so they didn't qualify for the government loans with the Expected Family Contribution too high. Basically pointed them to banks.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

that is the most ridiculous thing i've read today.
Can you sue the judge for a lack of common sense?

It has to do with the way the law governing children of divorced parents is set up in new jersey. According to the article, married parents are under no obligation to pay for college.

If the law on point is a matter of statute, the judge likely has little or no discretion.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Ok one thing I am not understanding is she is 21 as of now... This started back when she was no more than 19-20 years old correct...?

Ok so how is it that she is an adult and can sue here parents for school...? I mean like is it normal for a person that is 18 to be on their own...?

At age 18 one is considered an adult in the united states.

Regardless, in the united states one does not need to be an adult to institute a law suit against another person.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Devil's advocate here.

If the parents' household makes 272k per year and they refuse to help their daughter with tuition, they are screwing her over big time. That income level removes any hope of her getting considered for financial aid.

She still seems like an entitled brat though. The parents and daughter deserve each other.

The income level of the parents is not the issue IMO. It is the court saying that parents are obligated to pay for college. Period. Regardless of income. This is the government stepping in where it certainly does not belong.

 

[doubledeluxe]

Probably worth noting that financial aid is dependent on the parents paying. So if you have a wealthy family the state expects them to support you and you are unable to get any real financial aid for school. As long as that stays in place then I can understand this ruling.

Want parents off the hook? Provide financial aid to any student regardless of their parents income and wealth.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/b...st_pay_for_daughter_s_NJ_college_tuition.html

They agreed to pay her community college fees and in the end did not want to pay the $906. She sued and won.

Then she went after them for the Temple tuition.

The Grandparents apparently haven't talked to the father in years so its kinda strange that they would send her to live with them.

Also dad makes $275k + a year.

And the point is, what? The parents could pay... ergo they MUST pay. That is a truly ridiculous proposition.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Probably worth noting that financial aid is dependent on the parents paying. So if you have a wealthy family the state expects them to support you and you are unable to get any real financial aid for school. As long as that stays in place then I can understand this ruling.

Want parents off the hook? Provide financial aid to any student regardless of their parents income and wealth.

Define "financial aid." Most financial aid is in the form of student loans. Which ARE available to everyone regardless of income and wealth.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Define "financial aid." Most financial aid is in the form of student loans. Which ARE available to everyone regardless of income and wealth.

Financial aid that matters are in form of grants.

 

[doubledeluxe]

Define "financial aid." Most financial aid is in the form of student loans. Which ARE available to everyone regardless of income and wealth.

It's been a long time but as far as I remember...

1. Not able to get the Calgrant, Pelgrant, subsidized student loans.
2. Able to get non-subsidized loans and scholarships

Now I'm not sure what you mean by most financial aid but I can tell you that getting the Calgrant and Pelgrant negated the tuition costs at a state university. That's pretty huge. What you're advocating is that if parents don't help, college students should just take on the full load of expenses as well as start accruing interest immediately. That's pretty extreme in my opinion. College isn't cheap. Point one is designed to help people with no money. If she gets no financial help from her parents she has no money.

 

[sourceninja]

It's been a long time but as far as I remember...

1. Not able to get the Calgrant, Pelgrant, subsidized student loans.
2. Able to get non-subsidized loans and scholarships

Now I'm not sure what you mean by most financial aid but I can tell you that getting the Calgrant and Pelgrant negated the tuition costs at a state university. That's pretty huge. What you're advocating is that if parents don't help, college students should just take on the full load of expenses as well as start accruing interest immediately. That's pretty extreme in my opinion. College isn't cheap. Point one is designed to help people with no money. If she gets no financial help from her parents she has no money.

It means you find the best deal for your money. When I decided to go back to school I couldn't get grants or subsidized loans. I make too much money. So what I did do is look at the value of my investment. I found cheaper schools where my credits would transfer, I minimized my risk.

There is no reason any adult can't do that.

 

[doubledeluxe]

It means you find the best deal for your money. When I decided to go back to school I couldn't get grants or subsidized loans. I make too much money. So what I did do is look at the value of my investment. I found cheaper schools where my credits would transfer, I minimized my risk.

There is no reason any adult can't do that.

Actually I can list two GINORMOUS reasons.

1. Your field of study is not at every school and picking the cheapest school is not necessarily in your best interest
2. Cost of living differences and moving

Also, we're not talking about professionals going back to school here. You want to go back to school? Odds are the $40,000+ you need for school is far smaller burden than it is for a 20 year old.

I don't understand this kind of thinking. Educating our kids is so fundamentally important that we should not be making it more difficult than it already is.

This particular example is not that great but what do you do when a smart kid who can get into UCLA to study Engineering gets no help from his parents? Just tell him to borrow the $100,000 it's going to cost him? Or should we tell him to go to Santa Monica Junior College for 2 years and then transfer in so it only costs him about $75,000? Or maybe he should go to Sacramento State instead?

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Actually I can list two GINORMOUS reasons.

1. Your field of study is not at every school and picking the cheapest school is not necessarily in your best interest
2. Cost of living differences and moving

Also, we're not talking about professionals going back to school here. You want to go back to school? Odds are the $40,000+ you need for school is far smaller burden than it is for a 20 year old.

I don't understand this kind of thinking. Educating our kids is so fundamentally important that we should not be making it more difficult than it already is.

This particular example is not that great but what do you do when a smart kid who can get into UCLA to study Engineering gets no help from his parents? Just tell him to borrow the $100,000 it's going to cost him? Or should we tell him to go to Santa Monica Junior College for 2 years and then transfer in so it only costs him about $75,000? Or maybe he should go to Sacramento State instead?

Not concerning this case but hypothetically if they were already accepted into UCLA out of high school but forced to go to SMC and risk the chance of not being accepted again.