Kids sue mom for being a bad parent...

knapplc

knapplc

International Man of Mystery
Every once in a while you run across a story that shows that America is not in danger of running out of idiots anytime soon:

Kids lose "bad mother" lawsuit
Did you know you can sue your parents for skimping out on your childhood birthday gifts? You can, but you'll probably lose. Two years after Steven and Kathryn Miner, both in their 20s, sued their mother, Kimberly Garrity, for bad parenting during their formative years, the case has been dismissed. The $500,000 lawsuit accused 55-year-old Garrity of causing her adult kids emotional distress.

Their claims about their poor upbringing had more to do with what mom didn't do, than what she did. For starters: she didn't send her son college care packages, or buy her daughter the homecoming dress she wanted. And their birthday cards? No cash or checks, just Hallmark sentiments.

The Chicago Tribune reports Exhibit A in the case was a check-free birthday card for Steven, now 23.

"The card pictured tomatoes on a table with one tomato that had googly eyes. Inside the card read: 'Son I got you this Birthday card because it's just like you...different from all the rest! Have a great day! Love & Hugs, Mom xoxoxo.'"

An Illinois court of appeals judge decided this card, and other evidence of Garrity's proposed "bad mothering", weren't grounds for punishment.

"Such alleged actions are unpleasant and perhaps insensitive, and some would arguably fall outside the realm of 'good mothering,' but they are not so shocking as to form a basis for a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress," said Judge Kathy Flanagan in a court statement, adding that ruling in favor of the children "could potentially open the floodgates to subject family child rearing to ... excessive judicial scrutiny and interference."

The Miners were raised in an affluent Chicago suburb which may account for some lack of understanding of normal privileges outside of their luxury bubble. But there's more to the story than just a couple of spoiled adult kids. One of the Miner siblings' three lawyers is their father, Garrity's ex-husband, also named Steven Miner. When the couple divorced in 1995, the kids moved in with their dad.

Garrity's attorney claims the lawsuit was her ex-husband's attempt at the "ultimate revenge"; however, the senior Steven Miner says he tried to talk his kids out the lawsuit before representing them. Other claims against Garrity's mothering ability filed in the case, include threatening to call the police if her son didn't wear his seatbelt and forcing her daughter to come home from a homecoming party at midnight. The most serious accusation claimed Garrity once slapped her son upside the head, causing him what he alleges are chronic headaches, according to ABC News.

The judge called the claims "petty grievances of parental attention or inadequacy."
Click to expand...
 
Canttakeitanymore said:
In a way the suit itself proves bad parenting....
Click to expand...
I'd like to know how you see it that way. When I read this I see it as proof of a mom who did what she could to keep her kids safe, happy and healthy. But had the unfortunate of a divorce and raising two brats.

 
wildman said:
Canttakeitanymore said:
In a way the suit itself proves bad parenting....
Click to expand...
I'd like to know how you see it that way. When I read this I see it as proof of a mom who did what she could to keep her kids safe, happy and healthy. But had the unfortunate of a divorce and raising two brats.
Click to expand...
Actually your right... It doesn't prove she was a bad parent, the reasons they were suing were stupid (ie wrong dress, to early a curfew), although someone spoiled these kids to the point of thinking cards that had no money in them was a form of abuse.... I should of been more clear, she may not of been a bad parent but someone was...

 
Canttakeitanymore said:
wildman said:
Canttakeitanymore said:
In a way the suit itself proves bad parenting....
Click to expand...
I'd like to know how you see it that way. When I read this I see it as proof of a mom who did what she could to keep her kids safe, happy and healthy. But had the unfortunate of a divorce and raising two brats.
Click to expand...
Actually your right... It doesn't prove she was a bad parent, the reasons they were suing were stupid (ie wrong dress, to early a curfew), although someone spoiled these kids to the point of thinking cards that had no money in them was a form of abuse.... I should of been more clear, she may not of been a bad parent but someone was...
Click to expand...
Not necessarily, my family sounds a lot like this one. We never were wealthy or really had money or got everything we wanted. But looking back non of my brothers or I could complain about how we were raised cause we had parents that worked hard and would do anything for us. These kids in this article could have the same type of parents and situation but learned their behavior from friends. But I do agree they did learn it from somewhere.

 
jsneb83 said:
wildman said:
Canttakeitanymore said:
In a way the suit itself proves bad parenting....
Click to expand...
I'd like to know how you see it that way. When I read this I see it as proof of a mom who did what she could to keep her kids safe, happy and healthy. But had the unfortunate of a divorce and raising two brats.
Click to expand...
Well to some people, raising selfish brats is a sign of bad parenting.
Click to expand...
And sometimes people do the best they can under their circumstances. Sounds like Jr and sweetie are just bitter and angry...people forget that these kids are adults now. Time to grow up and stop blaming mom and dad for everything they didn't do and be thankful for what they DID.

 
irafreak said:
jsneb83 said:
wildman said:
Canttakeitanymore said:
In a way the suit itself proves bad parenting....
Click to expand...
I'd like to know how you see it that way. When I read this I see it as proof of a mom who did what she could to keep her kids safe, happy and healthy. But had the unfortunate of a divorce and raising two brats.
Click to expand...
Well to some people, raising selfish brats is a sign of bad parenting.
Click to expand...
And sometimes people do the best they can under their circumstances. Sounds like Jr and sweetie are just bitter and angry...people forget that these kids are adults now. Time to grow up and stop blaming mom and dad for everything they didn't do and be thankful for what they DID.
Click to expand...
I agree, but how many times do you hear people complaining about how some parents spoil their kids and let them get away and have everything. But this mother gave her kids all she could, but since it probably wasn't as much as what her kids' friends got, they got it ingrained in their heads that she was a bad parent. My point was more of a general point about how other people feel.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
One of the Miner siblings' three lawyers is their father, Garrity's ex-husband, also named Steven Miner. When the couple divorced in 1995, the kids moved in with their dad. Garrity's attorney claims the lawsuit was her ex-husband's attempt at the "ultimate revenge"
Click to expand...
Now that they lost the kids should turn around and sue their attorney (dad) for malpractice.

 
Wow so it was vengence. Sigh....you got the kids...that's torture enough for mom. Course women can be downright nasty so we don't know the whole story...

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top