'Homewreckers' Beware

A message to mistresses in North Carolina: Be careful when you “homewreck.” You may end up broke.

Cynthia Shackelford, a North Carolina resident, recently sued her ex-husband’s mistress, Anne Lundquist, claiming the mistress ruined her marriage. She used a law established more than two hundred years ago, the “alienation of affection” law, which can be brought against someone who is responsible for the failure of a marriage.

In other words, do not mess around with husbands or wives. You will be looking for trouble, particularly legal trouble. A spiteful ex-spouse, in a state with this law still enacted (there are currently only six states with such a law), may sue you. Oh, and did I mention the ex-wife won 9 million dollars?