B.C. man sued by mother for parental support

A B.C. man who was abandoned as a teenager is being sued by his elderly mother for parental support.

Ken Anderson, 47, has been fighting a lawsuit by his mother, Shirley Anderson, 73, since 2000.

Shirley, who has not had a relationship with Ken or his two siblings for decades, is asking for $750 per month in support from each of them.

A rarely used section of B.C.'s Family Relations Act says adult children are responsible for legally supporting parents who are "dependent on a child because of age, illness, infirmity or economic circumstances."

The B.C. Law Institute recommended repealing the section in a 2007 report.

"I don't know how anybody could go after their kids," Anderson said in an interview with CBC News. "First of all the law is brutal that they can allow this to happen. Hopefully they'll change the law."

Case asked to be thrown out

Anderson said he was left behind at 15 when his parents and younger brother moved from Osoyoos to the Kootenays. The teen lived with other families and quit school to find work.

"We don't have a relationship. I haven't talked to her in years and years and years," he said. "She's just out to make our life miserable."

"I had to make my own way in life and now she's coming back for ... a free living from us kids," said Anderson.The married truck driver lives north of Osoyoos with two teenage sons.

But Shirley Anderson disputes her son's version of events. She says Ken was 18 when the family moved and had no interest in going with them. She says he had already quit school at the time and had a job.

On Monday, Anderson's lawyer asked a judge to throw out the case because Shirley has not submitted financial documents ordered by the court, according to a media report.

Shirley Anderson said she was confused about what financial statements were required by the court.

The B.C. Supreme Courtjudge reservedhis decision.