Haven't read the legal documents yet, just saw this on t.v., then came here. Did read the dailymail article.
My first question is why did this "friends of the family" family begin the legal pursuit? Do they want payment for taking her in? If so, too bad, you decided to take in an 18 year old that left home. You took on that obligation yourselves.
Why didn't they try to get the girl to go back home? To understand that rules must be lived by when you live with anyone else, if it is your parents, your parent's friends, a room mate, a boyfriend, anyone. There are rules and you must follow them unless you choose to live alone, on your own, no one else funding it. Heck, even a sugar daddy has rules attached to money given.
Her own family was trying to get her help and she had to agree to therapy, she is 18 afterall. She rebelled, and found a bad boyfriend she could break the rules with. Might I ask who saves vomit? That is rather odd behavior.
I understand the girl thought she could leave home and live life her way. Got it. But that means getting a job, getting a place to live. Did she expect to move in with the boyfriend and that fell through? How did she expect to pay bills? (Obviously she didn't, she expects her parents to pay them for her.)
Not fully understanding the other family's role here, as it seems all way off target in helping the girl, more about getting her out of their home and getting paid for the time she spent there when they volunteered it.
As far paying college tuition, that is not a given from any parent. Not even possible for most. She has plenty of options, but seems to me, the cash is the only thing wanted, a free ride. The free ride comes with rules. She has shown she cannot follow rules. Let her do it on her own for at least a year, see how she follows the rules of society and supporting herself before going any further is what I would say.
Just not sure what is going on here. Find it grossly manipulative of the girl and the other family. I do hope the Judge decides she made this choice, she can live with it. In my family home, we were told from childhood we had to be out of the house and taking care of ourselves at age 18, there was no money for college, it just wasn't there. I think she has been very fortunate, and should now learn just how fortunate she is. The other family could have helped in pointing that out to her, not enabling her tantrum and manipulation.