Alienation of Affection Law hits North Carolina

Quite often the marriages in question have been in trouble for years when the scorned woman or man decides to initiate the alienation of affection suit – revenge and anger driven for certain. The couples I work with who have been impacted by their spouses abusive behavior for years before walking away from the marriage have a lot to say about this antiquated law. Give people like Robert Allen and Darlene Luther a break – you have no clue what happened in their previous marriages and cannot judge from the media stories alone, and actually no one should be judging at all.

Brien Blakely Story Created: May 12, 2010 at 11:19 PM EDT Story Updated: May 12, 2010 at 11:38 PM EDT INDIAN TRAIL, NC: A sex scandal is rocking the town of Indian Trail. Two members of the Town's Council had an extra-marital affair. Now, the wife of one is suing not only her husband but the other woman too. Council member Darlene Luther says her marriage was over and believes Robert Allen's was too and admits to having an affair with Allen, but never thought she'd get sued for it. "It's devastating." Allen's wife, Theresa Jacob-Allen, is suing Luther for $10,000 for "Alienation of Affection." Robert Allen calls the lawsuit is laughable, saying his marriage has been estranged for years. He says he's gone through years upon years of marriage counselling unsuccessfully. Allen calls the Alienation of Affection law archaic and that his wife's only doing this to be vindictive. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," said relationship expert Dr. Darshana Hawks. Dr. Hawks says Alienation for Affection is an old law still in effect in only seven states, North Carolina being one of them. She says it's very hard to prove. "In today's world it works for two reasons, one is to get money, and the other one's revenge, other than that there is no other reason to do it." The residents of Indian Trail don't like their town's leaders airing their dirty laundry in public. "These are the people that control your money control your taxes control your children's future. You put your trust and faith in the people and somebody turns around and does something like this how do you view your government at that point," said small business owner Patrick Parratt.