In re Thomas C.
Connecticut Superior Court of Juvenile Matters
691 A.2d 1140 (1996)

- Written by Katrina Sumner, JD
Facts
Thomas C. was a 16-year-old who would not obey his parents. Thomas dropped out of school just before he turned 16. When in school, Thomas had behavioral problems, and he had attention deficit disorder. However, Thomas attended regular classes and was provided with psychological support. Thomas was intelligent, but he struggled academically. Though Thomas improved while taking Ritalin, this improvement was short-lived, and it was suspected that Thomas did not take the medicine. Thomas often violated school rules and was suspended many times. Thomas’s behavior was no better at home. Thomas was verbally abusive toward his parents (plaintiffs) and siblings and was physically abusive toward his younger siblings. Thomas was even arrested as a result of a dispute with his father. Thomas’s parents had no control over him and were very concerned about the liability they might face for Thomas’s civil or criminal violations. Thomas refused to go to school, refused to seek employment, and refused counseling. However, Thomas was totally dependent on his mother and father for a place to live and for necessities such as food. At their wits’ end, Thomas’s parents filed an action to have Thomas emancipated. Emancipation would relieve Thomas’s parents of any responsibilities for Thomas’s schooling, his housing, or his civil or criminal acts. Thomas would be deemed to be 18 years old and would be able to enter into binding contracts, purchase property, consent to medical treatment, and make other decisions without parental consent. Thomas’s father explained to the court that he did not intend to stop supporting Thomas or to kick him out of the home immediately. Thomas’s father hoped to use the emancipation as leverage to force Thomas to be more obedient. If Thomas were to be emancipated, it was clear no plan existed for how Thomas would care for himself.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Dyer, J.)
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