WOW YALL BETTER THINK TWICE!! Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- The next time a married man or woman glances your way, you might think twice before acting on impulse and frolicking between satin sheets. The scorned spouse could sue you. Yes, you read that right. You, the paramour, can get hit with a lawsuit that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Theyre known as alienation of affection suits, when an outsider interferes in a marriage. The suits are allowed in seven states: Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota and Utah. The law allowing such legal action dates back to antiquated times when a wife was considered the property of a husband. A broken-hearted hubby could go after his wifes lover -- not with a gun, but with the law. In modern times, the suits are filed for two reasons: money and revenge. Juries in North Carolina have handed out awards in excess of $1 million on multiple occasions. If your spouse is going to cheat, you really would like them to cheat with somebody who has a lot of money, says Lee Rosen, a North Carolina divorce attorney who deals with alienation of affection cases on a daily basis. And thats why many legal experts are paying close attention to the Tiger Woods saga. Will his wife go after an alleged mistress? Were any of his transgressions with someone who is married? If so, the jilted hubby might be able to go after the worlds richest golfer. It doesnt matter that Woods lives in Florida, a state where the suits arent allowed, legal experts say. If any of Woods professed sins took place in an alienation of affection state, look out. If he had been dating a married woman, there could be the potential for a lucrative recovery, Rosen says. Youve got to have a really affluent paramour that makes for a good target. The suits rarely make it to trial. Usually, just the threat of such a lawsuit is enough for an out-of-court settlement.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:01:45 +0000
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